Peace plan may not yet be finalised
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President George Bush's statement on the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians yesterday left many involved in trying to push the process forward more fearful than optimistic.
The main fear, according to international diplomats, was that Mr Bush has left a peace plan that was supposed to be finalised up for renegotiation.
The "roadmap" was drawn up by the Middle East "quartet" of the US, Russia, the EU and the UN. A detailed peace plan based around Mr Bush's call for a "two-state solution", it calls for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel within three years of the plan being adopted. As Tony Blair put it yesterday: "The destination is a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israel-Palestinian conflict by 2005".
Although many commentators were assuming it, Mr Bush did not say that the peace plan would be made public – only that it would be "given" to Israel and the Palestinians as soon as the appointment of a Palestinian Prime Minister "with real authority" was confirmed – Mahmud Abbas is expected to be confirmed as the new premier within days. But both sides have already seen the plan, and the Israeli government has said it wants to make more than 100 changes to it.
Crucially, Mr Bush said that he would "welcome contributions" from both sides, and that he would encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to discuss the plan together – meaning it is up for negotiation.
The presidential statement will come as a rebuke to Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, after he hinted he would like to drop the roadmap in favour of a new plan agreed with only the US.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments