The U.S. cannot Enforce the Road Map

Submitted by Shimon Z. Klein (Israel), Jul 9, 2003 at 03:00

"Unless Palestinians accept the existence of Israel, the agreements they sign are scraps of paper.

Unless Palestinians are held to their promise of renouncing violence, agreements with them reward terrorism and therefore spur more violence."

The above two statements have hit the nail on the head. The fact that there was a suicide attack in Kfar Jabetz has proved once again that the "hudna" is not all embracing.

The whole problem of the Palestinian - Israeli Dispute is existential. The main problem with the "hudna" is that Hamas and its notorious allies will use this artificial respite in violence to regroup and hit Israel with a vengeance at the slightest excuse. The demand of the release of terrorists in Israeli prisons (which the Israeli Government will not do) will be used as an excuse to carry on terror attacks.

If there is no desire of the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel's right of existence then there is no point in any form of negotiations about peace agreements let alone "enforcing the Road Map". Abu Mazen is a weak leader and he shows no desire to dismantle the terror groups apart from making cosmetic attempts. He has not got the full support of Yasser Arafat and is very much a sop to the U.S.

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