What are Feeds?
Get back to the "Roadmap"
September 13, 2006
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has recently visited Jerusalem to get the "process of the peace process" back on track. In a visit to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's home PM Blair encouraged the region to once again try to implement the "Roadmap for Peace."
The Roadmap is a two state solution to the conflict in Israel. It is sponsored by the "Quartet" which is made up of the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations. The base of the plan is to divide Israel in two. Thus creating a Palestinian state and a Jewish state within the current borders of Israel. Israel will turn over the Gaza Strip and parts of Judea and Samaria, commonly called the "West Bank," to the Arab population and in return Israel will be able to obtain peace within her borders.
The Israeli government unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip over a year ago in order to make advancements toward the international community's demands. However, the desired result was not achieved. The Gaza Strip immediately became a terrorist military zone and the terrorists began implementing daily rocket attacks against Israeli settlements.
The Gaza is also in political chaos. The Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has been repeatedly undermined and attacked by the Hamas led Parliament. Since Hamas won such a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections nine months ago, Abbas has been trying to consolidate the government into a body that can at least sit in the same room together. Both sides have tried to assassinate and overturn the other's leadership. Government buildings have been bombed and riots have ensued in the streets between Fatah and Hamas. The Hamas led parliament still refuses to even acknowledge that the state of Israel exists, but agreed this week to join a coalition government with Fatah and Abbas saying that they would negotiate with Israel through them.
Despite the problems, Olmert told Blair that he would consider talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas. He said Tony Blair has been a leader in the war on terror and one of Israel's closest friends.
Tony Blair said "it must have been a very difficult time when Israel was beset on all sides, but I think and know that the majority of people here, I am sure, want to see what the majority of people in my country want to see, which is a Middle East that is stable and democratic, with people living side by side in peace. It is very easy to be pessimistic in the light of everything that has happened recently, but I do believe that with goodwill and the right leadership it can be done."
The Roadmap is a two state solution to the conflict in Israel. It is sponsored by the "Quartet" which is made up of the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations. The base of the plan is to divide Israel in two. Thus creating a Palestinian state and a Jewish state within the current borders of Israel. Israel will turn over the Gaza Strip and parts of Judea and Samaria, commonly called the "West Bank," to the Arab population and in return Israel will be able to obtain peace within her borders.
The Israeli government unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip over a year ago in order to make advancements toward the international community's demands. However, the desired result was not achieved. The Gaza Strip immediately became a terrorist military zone and the terrorists began implementing daily rocket attacks against Israeli settlements.
The Gaza is also in political chaos. The Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has been repeatedly undermined and attacked by the Hamas led Parliament. Since Hamas won such a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections nine months ago, Abbas has been trying to consolidate the government into a body that can at least sit in the same room together. Both sides have tried to assassinate and overturn the other's leadership. Government buildings have been bombed and riots have ensued in the streets between Fatah and Hamas. The Hamas led parliament still refuses to even acknowledge that the state of Israel exists, but agreed this week to join a coalition government with Fatah and Abbas saying that they would negotiate with Israel through them.
Despite the problems, Olmert told Blair that he would consider talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas. He said Tony Blair has been a leader in the war on terror and one of Israel's closest friends.
Tony Blair said "it must have been a very difficult time when Israel was beset on all sides, but I think and know that the majority of people here, I am sure, want to see what the majority of people in my country want to see, which is a Middle East that is stable and democratic, with people living side by side in peace. It is very easy to be pessimistic in the light of everything that has happened recently, but I do believe that with goodwill and the right leadership it can be done."
