EU pushes for Mid-East roadmap

The EU's contact with Yasser Arafat upsets the Israelis

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has been leading an intense round of diplomatic activity to promote the so-called roadmap towards peace in the Middle East.

He has met the new Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas - more commonly known as Abu Mazen - and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

The latest round of meetings are meant to pave the way for talks on Saturday between Abu Mazen and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon - the first official Palestinian-Israeli contact since September 2000.

But Mr Solana has not held any meetings with Israeli leaders - the prime minister said he was too busy to see him.

The BBC's David Chazan, in Jerusalem, says Mr Sharon has made it clear that he is reluctant to see Mr Solana because he ignored Israel's policy of trying to sideline Yasser Arafat.

ROADMAP MAIN POINTS

Phase 1 (to May 2003): End of terrorism, normalisation of Palestinian life and Palestinian political reform; Israeli withdrawal and end of settlement activity; Palestinian elections

Phase 2: (June-Dec 2003) Creation of an independent Palestinian state; international conference and international monitoring of compliance with roadmap

Phase 3 (2004-2005): Second international conference; permanent status agreement and end of conflict; agreement on final borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements; Arab states to agree to peace deals with Israel

Roadmap full text

Can attacks be stopped?

EU officials argue that Mr Arafat is an elected Palestinian representative and must be included in the new peace initiative.

Mr Solana acknowledged that there were difficulties in implementing the roadmap - drafted by the US, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - but said he was optimistic that it would work.

"I am very happy about the ideas and the steps that Mahmoud Abbas presented to us," Solana said.

The Palestinian prime minister is urging the Israeli government to accept the proposals. He said he hoped his meeting with Mr Sharon would be positive.

Israeli leaders say they will begin implementing the plan if Abu Mazen curbs violence by militant groups.

But Mr Sharon has many reservations about the roadmap and is expected to put them to President George Bush when he meets him in Washington next week.

Under the plan, a Palestinian state is due to be established by 2005.

The latest round of diplomatic contact comes amid continuing violence in Gaza.

Israeli troops staged another incursion into Gaza on Thursday, killing a 12-year-old boy and four other Palestinians.

Another 16 Palestinians were wounded when tanks, accompanied by bulldozers and two combat helicopters, launched their offensive at dawn.