Gun attack mars Middle East peace talks
Violence on the West Bank has marred the start of peace talks between Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.
However, despite the killing of a Palestinian gunman who attacked an Israeli military check point, the two leaders seemed determined to forge ahead with the so-called roadmap to peace.
“Every day that passes without an agreement is a lost opportunity. Every person killed is a tragedy,” Mr. Abbas said in his statement.
The negotiations are taking place after the main militant groups agreed to lay down their arms, although the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades are reportedly choosing not to observe the ceasefire.
Israeli troops are expected to pull out of the West Bank city of Bethlehem by tomorrow.
And if the roadmap goes according to plan there should be an independent Palestinian state by the end of the year.
But analysts have pointed out that this is the third time the two men have met since the peace plan was proposed by the international community, and in the intervening periods state-sponsored assassinations of Palestinian militants have continued, as have the suicide bombings.
And there are concerns that Mr. Abbas and the Palestinian cabinet do not have the power to control Palestinian terrorist cells, so crucial to the fulfilment of the roadmap.
However, it is hoped that the fact that Israel troops have started to pull out of Gaza will result in a full withdrawal back to the army’s position prior to the renewed hostilities that started nearly three years ago.
