Text Of Middle East Roadmap

The following text has been placed in the House of Commons library by 
the Foreign Office. This is a draft, which officials say will be "topped 
and tailed" - but not substanially altered - within the next two weeks.  

04/13/03

The following is a performance-based and goal driven roadmap with clear 
phases, timelines, target dates and benchmarks aiming at progress 
through reciprocal steps by the two parties in the political, security, 
economic, humanitarian and institution-building fields, under the 
auspices of the Quartet.  

The destination is a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israel-
Palestinian conflict by 2005, as presented in President Bush's speech 
of 24 June, and welcomed by the EU, Russia, and the UN in the 16 July 
and 17 September Quartet Ministerial statements.  

A two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be 
achieved through an end to violence and terrorism, when the Palestinian 
people have a leadership acting decisively against terror and willing 
able to build a practising democracy based on tolerance and liberty, 
and through Israel's readiness to do what is necessary for a democratic 
Palestinian state to be established, and a clear, unambiguous 
acceptance by both parties of the goal of a negotiated settlement as 
described below.  

The Quartet will assist and facilitate implementation of the plan, starting 
in Phase I, including direct discussions between the parties as required. 

The plan establishes a realistic timeline for implementation. However, as 
a performance-based plan, progress will require and depend upon the 
good faith efforts of the parties, and their compliance with each of the 
obligations outlined below. Should the parties perform their obligations 
rapidly, progress within and through the phases may come sooner than 
indicated in the plan. Non-compliance with obligations will impede 
progress.  

A settlement, negotiated between the parties, will result in the 
emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state 
living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other 
neighbors.  

The settlement will resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict and end the 
occupation that began in 1967, based on the foundations on the Madrid 
Conference, the principle of land for peace, UNSCRs 242, 338 and 
1397, agreements previously reached by the parties, and the initiative 
of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah u endorsed by the Beirut Arab League 
Summit u calling for acceptance of Israel as a neighbor living in peace 
and security, in the context of a comprehensive settlement.  

This initiative is a vital element of international efforts to promote 
a comprehensive peace on all tracks, including the Syrian-Israeli and 
Lebanese- Israeli tracks.  

The Quartet will meet regularly at senior levels to evaluate the parties' 
performance on implementation of the plan. In each phase, the parties 
are expected to perform their obligations in parallel, unless otherwise 
indicated.  

PHASE I: ENDING TERROR AND VIOLENCE, NORMALIZING 
PALESTINIAN LIFE AND BUILDING PALESTINIAN INSTITUTIONS

PRESENT TO MAY 2003

In Phase I, the Palestinians immediately undertake an unconditional 
cessation of violence according to the steps outlined below; such action 
should be accompanied by supportive measures undertaken by Israel.  

# Palestinians and Israelis resume security cooperation based on the 
Tenet work plan to end violence, terrorism, and incitement through 
restructured and effective Palestinian security services. Palestinian 
undertake comprehensive political reform in preparation for statehood, 
including drafting a Palestinian constitution, and free, fair and open 
elections upon the basis of those measures.  

# Israel takes all necessary steps to help normalize Palestinian life. 
Israel withdraws from Palestinian areas occupied from September 28, 
2000 and the two sides restore the status quo that existed at that time, 
as security performance and cooperation progress.  

# Israel also freezes all settlement activity, consistent with the Mitchell 
report.  

# At the outset of Phase I, the Palestinian leadership issues unequivocal 
statement reiterating Israel's right to exist in peace and security and 
calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end armed 
activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere. All official 
Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel.  

# Israeli leadership issues unequivocal statement affirming its 
commitments 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.  

SECURITY

# Palestinians declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and 
undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain 
individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on 
Israelis anywhere.  

# Rebuilt and refocused Palestinian Authority security apparatus begins 
sustained, targeted, and effective operations aimed at confronting all 
those engaged in terror and dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and 
infrastructure. This includes commencing confiscation of illegal weapons 
and consolidation of security authority, free of association with terror 
and corruption.  

# GOI takes no actions undermining trust, including deportations, attack 
on civilians; confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and 
property, as a punitive measure or to facilitate Israeli construction; 
destruction of Palestinian institutions and infrastructure; and other 
measures specified in the Tenet Work Plan.  

# Relying on existing mechanisms and on-the-ground resources, 
Quartet representatives begin informal monitoring and consult with 
the parties on establishment of a formal monitoring mechanism and its 
implementation.  

# Implementation, as previously agreed, of U.S. rebuilding, training 
and resumed security cooperation plan in collaboration with outside 
oversight board (U.S. - Egypt - Jordan). Quartet support for efforts 
to achieve a lasting, comprehensive cease-fire.  

# All Palestinian security organizations are consolidated into three 
services reporting to an empowered Interior Minister.  

# Restructured/retained Palestinian security forces and IDF counterparts 
progressively resume security cooperation and other undertakings in 
implementation of the Tenet work plan, including regular senior-level 
meetings, with the participation of U.S. security officials.  

# Arab states cut off public and private funding and all other forms of 
support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and terror.  

# All donors providing budgetary support for the Palestinians channel 
these funds through the Palestinian Ministry of Finance's Single 
Treasury Account.  

# As comprehensive security performance moves forward, IDF withdraws 
progressively from areas occupied since September 28, 2000 and the 
two sides restore the status quo that existed prior to September 28, 
2000. Palestinian security forces redeploy to areas vacated by IDF.  

PALESTINIAN INSTITUTION-BUILDING

# Immediate action on credible process to produce draft constitution for 
Palestinian statehood. As rapidly as possible, constitutional committee 
circulates draft Palestinian constitution, based on strong parliamentary 
democracy and cabinet with empowered prime minister, for public 
comment/ debate. Constitutional building proposes draft document for 
submission after elections for approval by appropriate Palestinian 
institutions.  

# Appointment of interim prime minister or cabinet with empowered 
executive authority/decision-making body.  

# GOI fully facilitates travel of Palestinian officials for PLC and Cabinet 
sessions, internationally supervised security retraining, electoral and 
other reform activity, and other supportive measures related to the 
reform efforts.  

# Continued appointment of Palestinian ministers empowered to 
undertake fundamental reform. Completion of further steps to achieve 
genuine separation of powers, including any necessary Palestinian legal 
reforms for this purpose.  

# Establishment of independent Palestinian election commission. PLC 
reviews and revises elections law.  

# Palestinian performance on judicial, administrative and economic 
benchmarks, as established by the International Task Force on 
Palestinian Reform.  

# As early as possible, and based upon the above measures and in the 
context of open debate and transparent candidate selection/electoral 
campaign based on a free, multiparty process, Palestinians hold free, 
open, and fair elections.  

# GOI facilitates Task Force election assistance, registration of voters, 
movement of candidates and voting officials. Support for NGOs involved 
in the election process.  

# GOI reopens Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and other closed 
Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem based on a commitment that 
these institutions operate strictly in accordance with prior agreements 
between the parties.  

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

# Israel takes measures to improve the humanitarian situation. Israel 
and Palestinians implement in full all recommendations of the Bertini 
report to improve humanitarian conditions, lifting curfews, and easing 
restrictions on movement of persons and goods, and allowing full, safe, 
and unfettered access of international and humanitarian personnel.  

# AHLC reviews the humanitarian situation and prospects for economic 
development in the West Bank and Gaza and launches a major donor 
assistance effort, including to the reform effort.  

# GOI and PA continue revenue clearance process and transfer of funds, 
including areas, in accordance with agreed, transparent monitoring 
mechanism.  

CIVIL SOCIETY

# Continued donor support, including increased funding through 
PVOs/NGOs, for people to people programmes, private sector 
development and civil society initiatives.  

SETTLEMENTS

# GOI immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since March 2001.  

# Consistent with the Mitchell Report, GOI freezes all settlement activity 
(including natural growth of settlements).  

PHASE II: TRANSITION

JUNE 2003 - DECEMBER 2003

In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an 
independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of 
sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way-station to a 
permanent status settlement.  

As has been noted, this goal can be achieved when the Palestinian 
people have a leadership acting decisively against terror, willing and 
able to build a practising democracy based on tolerance and liberty. 
With such a leadership, reformed civil institutions and security 
structures, the Palestinians will have the active support of the Quartet 
and the broader international community in establishing an independent, 
viable, state.  

Progress into Phase II will be based upon the consensus judgment of 
the Quartet of whether conditions are appropriate to proceed, taking 
into account performance of both parties.  

Furthering and sustaining efforts to normalize Palestinian lives and build 
Palestinian institutions, Phase II starts after Palestinian elections and 
ends with possible creation of an independent Palestinian state with 
provisional borders in 2003.  

Its primary goals are continued comprehensive security performance 
and effective security cooperation, continued normalization of 
Palestinian life and institution-building, further building on and sustaining
of the goals outlined in Phase I, ratification of a democratic Palestinian 
constitution, formal establishment of office of prime minister, 
consolidation of political reform, and the creation of a Palestinian state 
with provisional borders.  

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

# Convened by the Quartet, in consultation with the parties, immediately 
after the successful conclusion of Palestinian elections, to support 
Palestinian economic recovery and launch a process leading to 
establishment of an independent Palestinian state with provisional 
borders.  

# Such a meeting would be inclusive, based on the goal of a 
comprehensive Middle East peace (including between Israel and Syria, 
and Israel and Lebanon), and based on the principles described in the 
preamble to this document.  

# Arab states restore pre-intifada links to Israel (trade offices, etc.).  

# Revival of multilateral engagement on issues including regional water 
resources, environment, economic development, refugees and arms 
control issues.  

# New constitution for democratic, independent Palestinian state is 
finalized and approved by appropriate Palestinian institutions. Further 
elections, if required, should follow approval of the new constitution.  

# Empowered reform cabinet with office of prime minister formally 
established, consistent with draft constitution.  

# Continued comprehensive security performance, including effective 
security cooperation on the bases laid out in Phase I.  

# Creation of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders 
through a process of Israeli-Palestinian engagement. Launched by the 
international conference. As part of this process, implementation of prior 
agreements, to enhance maximum territorial contiguity, including further 
action on settlements in conjunction with establishment of a Palestinian 
state with provisional borders.  

# Enhanced international role in monitoring transition, with the active, 
sustained, and operational support of the Quartet.  

# Quartet members promote international recognition of Palestinian 
state, including possible UN membership.  

PHASE III: PERMANENT STATUS AGREEMENT AND END OF THE ISRAELI - PALESTINIAN 
CONFLICT

2004 - 2005

Progress into Phase III, based on consensus judgment of Quartet, and 
taking into account actions of both parties and Quartet monitoring.  

Phase III objectives are consolidation of reform and stabilization of 
Palestinian institutions, sustained, effective Palestinian security 
performance, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent 
status agreement in 2005.  

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

# Convened by Quartet, in consultation with the parties, at beginning of 
2004 to endorse agreement reached on an independent Palestinian 
state with provisional borders and formally to launch a process with the 
active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet, leading to a 
final, permanent status resolution in 2005, including on borders, 
Jerusalem, refugees, settlements and to support progress toward a 
comprehensive Middle East settlement between Israel and Lebanon and 
Israel and Syria, to be achieved as soon as possible.  

# Continued comprehensive, effective progress on the reform agenda laid 
out by the TaskForce in preparation for final status agreement.  

# Continued sustained and effective security performance and sustained, 
effective security cooperation on the basis laid out in Phase I.  

# International efforts to facilitate reform and stabilize Palestinian 
institutions and the Palestinian economic, in preparation for final status 
agreement.  

# Parties reach final and comprehensive permanent status agreement 
that ends the Israel u Palestinian conflict in 2005, through a settlement 
negotiated between the parties based on UNSCR 242, 338, and 1397, 
that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and includes an agreed, 
just, fair, and realistic solution to the refugee issue, and a negotiated 
resolution on the status of Jerusalem that takes into account the 
political and religious concerns of both sides, and protects the religious 
interests of Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide, and fulfills the 
vision of two states, Israel and sovereign, independent, democratic and 
viable Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.  

# Arab state acceptance of full normal relations with Israel and 
security for all the states of the region in the context of a 
compressive Arab-Israeli peace

                          -==-

Source: Information Clearinghouse ...
[ http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2904.htm ]

Cheers, Steve..

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