Renewed vigour must be applied to 'road map' peace plan

With a new Palestinian Prime Minister in place, all parties involved in peace process between Israelis and Palestinians should "recommit themselves to the process", a senior UN official told the Security Council yesterday.

In his assessment of developments in the Middle East, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, said newly installed Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei would be expected "to take immediate steps to establish law and order, control violence and start operations to confront those who engage in terror".

"We hear talk here and there of a possible meeting between the two Prime Ministers and of another ceasefire," he said.

"These tender shoots need nourishing. The peace process cannot be allowed to remain stalled."

Both sides had done little to address the situation and both should be judged by their performance, Mr Prendergast said.

Despite the prospects afforded by the 'road map' peace plan, terrorism remained a threat to Israel, and Israeli military and settlement operations, meanwhile, as well as its construction of a separation barrier, caused Palestinian suffering, he added.

"The period of inertia, excuses and conditionality in Middle East peacemaking must end," he said.

The Security Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the Road Map, which advocates achieving "the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security".

The resolution - cosponsored by Bulgaria, Chile, China, France, Germany, Guinea, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom - also called on the parties to fulfil their obligations under the 'road map' in cooperation with the Quartet.

While recognizing Israel's right and duty to defend itself against terrorism, this defence could not be carried out at the expense of the entire Palestinian people, Mr Prendergast said in his assessment.

(gmcg)