Jerusalem Al

Jerusalem Al-Quds (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic

09 Sep 02, via FBIS/WNC.

Subslug: Report: "Text of EU Plan To Establish Palestinian State by 2005; Jordan, Lebanon To Discuss Plan 17 Sep"

Arab diplomatic sources in the Jordanian capital told "Al-Quds" the plan is an informal document by the EU about the elements to establish a Palestinian state by 2005 as follows:

1- Framework

The European Council that convened in Seville underscored the vision of

two states living side by side within safe and recognized borders. It

also emphasized the need to hold a peace conference soon to underline a political solution and a practical and clear timetable.

A widely recognized timeframe to establish a Palestinian state by June 2005 is already available, as manifested by Bush's speech on 24 June. On 16 July, the Quartet Committee and other members in the committee--the EU, Russia, and the United Nations--announced they welcomed US commitment

to this end. This window of hope should be opened to achieve a final

and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis based on the Madrid Conference, Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, and 1402, the negotiations and agreements previously signed by the parties, and the

Arab peace plan. Efforts, meanwhile, would persist to reach a

cease-fire, improve the humanitarian and economic situation on the ground, restructure the Palestinian institutions, and rebuild the

shattered Palestinian economy. The international community should look

for means to deal with the political questions we face. The lessons

learned from the Madrid Conference and the Oslo Accord entail that the plan should be clear, detailed, and unambiguous to guarantee that the

final status negotiations would take place prior to June 2005. The EU

should seek to play an effective role via the Quartet Committee and underline its commitment to work for the establishment of a Palestinian state within this timeframe.

The Quartet Committee should agree upon a realistic plan as early as Fall 2002 in close cooperation with Israel, the PA, and neighboring Arab countries to crystallize a clear vision toward the establishment of a democratic, sustainable, and sovereign Palestinian state by June 2005. The plan should bolster the EU call for convening an international peace conference.

Following is the endeavor, which was made to sum up and put together the existing plans and proposals, including those submitted by France, Germany, and the Arab League:

2- Plan

The plan would help provide the following elements:

1) Clear timetables--phases--and their outlines until June 2005

2) Unequivocal pledges by the parties

3) Monitoring system on the ground under the Quartet Committee's

supervision to guarantee progress and solution of disputes

Three-phase plan

There could possibly be three phases from now until 2005 as follows:

a) A pre-elections stage, which would lead to presidential and

parliamentary elections in the beginning of 2003. The main

responsibilities in this stage would be as follows:

- Signing a Palestinian-Israeli security agreement, which includes an

effective mechanism that ends violence, terrorism, and instigation and depends on restructured and efficient security services.

- This would enable Israel to withdraw gradually from the reoccupied

autonomous Palestinian territories as a precondition to hold Palestinian elections.

- The Palestinian leadership would issue a public declaration in Arabic

that reemphasizes Israel's right to exist and calls for halting the armed intifadah, respecting the Jewish faith, and issuing decisive measures to stop instigation against Israel.

- Continuing the process of Palestinian judicial, administrative,

economic, and business reforms by November 2002 under the supervision of the Quartet Committee, taking into consideration the transfer of powers and the creation of the post of prime minister as part of the constitutional reforms.

- To facilitate the reform process, it is important to ease the

restrictions imposed on Palestinian residents immediately and substantively--such as, easing restrictions on roadblocks and buying of

food. This should include free passage to secure humanitarian needs

without any obstacles.

- Halting the building of new settlements, halting expansion of the ones

that already exist, as well as halting the building of new settlement roads and expropriation of land.

- Releasing the suspended tax revenues.

- Allowing Palestinian workers to enter into Israel.

- Withdrawing from Areas "A"--in the least--removing roadblocks, and

allowing freedom of movement in preparation for the elections.

- Deploying observers for the elections as soon as possible in

preparation for the presidential and parliamentary elections.

- A meeting of the donor states emanating from the liaison committee

should take place in Fall 2002 to harness support for the reform process and social and economic reforms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

- Convening an international peace conference by the Quartet Committee as

soon as possible to agree upon a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

- Exerting efforts to prepare the groundwork for the resumption of

Israeli negotiations with Syria and Lebanon to sign a peace accord.

- Providing strong support for peace camps in Israel and the Palestinian

territories.

b) The post-elections phase to the establishment of a Palestinian state

would begin after Palestinian elections and would end in an agreement to establish a Palestinian state within interim borders by August 2003. This phase would include the following:

- Establishing a Palestinian authority with new legitimacy that would

implement reforms and make the authority a peace partner that enjoys credibility.

- Drawing up a new Palestinian constitution.

- Negotiating a Palestinian state with the Quartet Committee, with

neighboring countries as mediators. The temporary borders of the state

would include Areas "A" and "B", at least. Concluding a clear agreement

regarding a safe passage between the Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in addition to other issues, including security and water.

- Continuing to implement a Palestinian program of reforms, including the

deployment of international observers and counselors.

----------------------------------------------------------------

The FOFOGNET and PALDEV email lists, and Palestinian Refugee ResearchNet, are projects of the Interuniversity Consortium for Arab and Middle East Studies (Montreal).

Website: http://www.prrn.org

List queries: Contact Rex Brynen at rex.brynen@mcgill.ca

---------------------------------------------------------------