In a dramatic move, the current Israeli government dominated
by the Right accepted the basic outlines of the Road Map for
solving the conflict with the Palestinians, including the
formation of a Palestinian State. The vote was 12 in favor, 7
opposed and 4 abstaining. The abstainers were Likud ministers
Limor Livnat, Danny Naveh, Binyamin Netanyahu and Tzachi
Hanegbi.
With the Israeli acceptance of the Road Map, the way was
cleared for a summit meeting between Israeli prime minister
Sharon, Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas and US
President George Bush. It is expected to take place as early
as next week.
Foreign Ministry officials are working towards a summit and
the Israel and the PA declarations there that may start the
process.
According to the road map, at the outset of Phase 1, the PA
leadership is to issue an "unequivocal statement reiterating
Israel's right to exist in peace and security and calling for
an immediate and unconditional cease-fire to end armed
activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere.
All official PA institutions end incitement against
Israel."
Israel is to issue an "unequivocal statement affirming its
commitment to the two-state vision of an independent, viable,
sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security
alongside Israel, as expressed by President Bush, and calling
for an immediate end to violence against Palestinians
everywhere. All official Israeli institutions end incitement
against Palestinians."
Foreign Ministry legal adviser Alan Baker said one of the
issues he is dealing with is trying to understand the legal
ramifications of the phrase "an end to violence against
Palestinians everywhere."
"How can one draw a comparison between terrorism that has to
end and Israeli activity in self-defense that is legal?"
Baker said.
In a meeting with Likud Knesset members on Monday, Sharon
came under severe criticism for the approval of a Palestinian
state. He was accused of betraying the Likud and of reneging
on principles that he fought for over the years.
In a speech responding to the criticism, Sharon said, "You
might not like the word occupation, but that is what it is.
To hold 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation is a
terrible thing for Israel, the Palestinians, and the
economy."
He said that approval of the road map a necessary step in
achieving peace and that restoring peace is an important part
of restoring the economy.
Sharon also explained that the government vote was not the
equivalent of Israel approving the road map. The vote was not
a formal agreement and therefore he did not need to bring it
to the Knesset. "This is a frame, not an agreement... we have
a direction, not an agreement," Sharon said.
This was also a point that many of the Cabinet ministers made
in explaining their support of the Road Map.
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sat quietly at Sharon's
side. He did not publicly express any opinion one way or the
other, and he abstained in the Cabinet vote.
Sharon also said that there was nothing new in his sentiments
and therefore he had not betrayed anyone's trust. "I never
hid them; no one can say we voted for the Likud because we
didn't know what your beliefs were," he said.
Yehiel Hazan, who heads the Knesset settlements lobby and
lives in Ariel asked if his son would be able to build his
home in Ariel. Sharon interjected and said, "Natural growth
in the settlements can continue and you can build your
children and your grandchildren homes inside the
settlement."
Sharon called for party unity and reiterated a call for the
party to back the treasury's economic plan. "There will be
security, there will be quiet and -- with the revolutionary
economic steps now being taken -- there will be investment in
Israel and a resulting flourishing economy," he said.
