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April 23, 2003
Arafat concedes, sets stage for road map
In what could turn out to be the top story of the day, former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is in the process of transferring powers to Palestine's newest prime minister Mahmoud Abbas, agreed to approve the cabinet that Abbas had selected. Negotiations meet into the night, right up to a self appointed deadline the two men had set, but a deal was finally reached. If Bush and Sharon were being honest when they said the roadmap to a Palestinian state would start once Abbas' cabinet was approved, this could be a significant event for peace in the Middle East. I'm still pessimistic about Sharon's true intentions, and Bush's willingness to push him. Here is some AP wire copy on the breakthrough from ABC News:
Yasser Arafat and his prime minister-designate, Mahmoud Abbas, ended their bitter standoff over the composition of a new Cabinet on Wednesday, clearing the way for a new Mideast peace initiative backed by Washington.The long-awaited "road map" holds out the prospect of ending 31 months of Israeli-Palestinian fighting and establishing a Palestinian state. It also would respond to pressure on the United States by Arab and European countries to promote Mideast peace at a time when its troops occupy Iraq.
The United States and Israel have boycotted Arafat, accusing him of links to terrorism. President Bush said he would unveil the plan only after the formal establishment of Abbas' government which U.S. and Israeli officials hope will amount to a means of sidelining Arafat.
"When that happens we will officially provide the road map to the parties soon thereafter," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Wednesday.
Wednesday's deal was made possible when Arafat backed down under intense international pressure and withdrew his challenge to Abbas' security team in exchange for a promise he would be consulted on major decisions including, presumably, a crackdown on Palestinian militias.
Posted by Mike at April 23, 2003 08:52 PM
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