Group issues recommendations for Road Map to Peace

CONTACT: B.J. Almond
PHONE: (713) 348-6770
E-MAIL: balmond@rice.edu

GROUP ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ROAD MAP TO PEACE
  Rice University’s Baker Institute convened an Israeli-Palestinian workshop on
   ”Creating a Road Map Implementation Process Under United States Leadership”

With the election of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the planned implementation of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon’s Disengagement Plan, the Bush administration has a unique opportunity and leadership role to define the strategic direction of a Road Map Implementation Process (RMIP), according to a policy recommendation report by an international group of experts convened by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston.

The recommendations, issued today, resulted from a Baker Institute workshop titled ”Creating a Road Map Implementation Process Under U.S. Leadership.” The workshop, chaired by Baker Institute Director Edward Djerejian, took place during several sessions over the past eight months.   Participants included Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian, American, European and Canadian governmental and nongovernmental representatives who examined the steps necessary to allow for a successful implementation of Israeli and Palestinian commitments and a return to the Road Map.

Djerejian, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and U.S. ambassador to Syria and Israel, said the group’s report is being sent to U.S., Israeli and Palestinian leaders and officials, as well as to Arab and other governments.

”Both the Israeli and Palestinian leadership have expressed their willingness to implement their obligations under phase one of the Road Map and return to bilateral negotiations toward a Permanent Status Agreement and an end to conflict,” the report states.   ”Although the obligations of the parties are unilateral in nature, neither side can successfully follow through on their commitments without adequate support and coordination from the international community, in particular, the United States.”

The group advocated that the Bush administration assist the parties in turning unilateral action into a comprehensive multilateral action program that leads to a renewal of bilateral Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.   This would include encouraging both sides to reach a complete and comprehensive cessation of violence as the necessary framework for security action.   The U.S. should also encourage the PA to consolidate security reform and encourage Israel to implement understandings reached regarding unilateral disengagement and a comprehensive settlement freeze, including natural growth of settlements and outpost removal.

Among the other key recommendations:

* The United States should assist in capacity building supporting Palestinian governmental and security reform and Israeli disengagement, with the necessary technical and professional assistance.

* The United States should develop the requirements to allow for an Israeli withdrawal   from the Philadelphi Corridor and the transfer of security authority for the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as the Gaza airport and seaport, territorial waters and airspace, to the PA.

* The United States should lead an international effort for Palestinian economic rehabilitation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to accompany Israeli disengagement.

* The U.S. should develop with the parties a trilateral working plan for the orderly transfer to the PA of structures and infrastructures in the areas to be evacuated.

* The United States should assist in providing a safety net for crisis situations through the establishment of trilateral coordination and liaison mechanisms.

* The unique political capital of U.S. leadership should be used to ensure an adequate response to compliance and noncompliance by the parties, including consultations between Quartet representatives and the parties on the establishment of a formal monitoring mechanism and its implementation as outlined in the Road Map.

The full report, including the names of participants, is posted on the Baker Institute Web site, http://bakerinstitute.org .

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