In a sharp rebuff to European allies, Russia and the United Nations, the Bush administration has decided not to put forth a plan for a peace settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians until after the crisis in Iraq is
resolved.
Negotiations aimed at drafting a three-year-long, step-by-step “roadmap” leading to the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005, have been under way for nearly a year between the United States and its partners in the
so-called “Quartet” of international diplomatic mediators.
The Palestinian leadership has insistently urged the US and the “Quartet” to release and implement the “roadmap.” In December, President Bush met with European leaders and the
United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, all of whom wanted the peace plan published immediately. Those who met with Bush said they had won assurances that the plan would be published as soon as the Israeli elections were completed in late January.
“Now, (US) officials say, Mr. Bush has changed his mind and regards the December pledge as unrealistic," The New York Times reported on Saturday. (Albawaba.com)
