Arafat berates Israel peace pledge

There is fierce opposition to the roadmap in Israel

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has strongly criticised the outcome of the Middle East peace summit in Jordan.

Mr Arafat, who was not invited to the talks between Israel, the Palestinians and the United States, said Israel's pledge to remove unauthorised settlements in the West Bank was insufficient.

In a first sign of an attempt to implement the US-backed peace plan, senior Israeli officials were due to meet on Thursday to discuss how to dismantle some outposts, Israeli media reported.

For their part, the Palestinians, who were represented at the talks by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, - also known as Abu Mazen - said the armed Palestinian uprising (intifada) against Israel must end.

Hours after the summit, thousands of angry Israeli settlers and right-wing supporters staged a demonstration in Jerusalem, vowing to thwart any attempt to remove settlements or outposts.

'Nothing tangible'

Mr Arafat said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "has not yet offered anything tangible".

SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA

Settlements: 'Blocks to peace'

"What's the significance of removing a caravan from one location and then saying 'I have removed a settlement'?" he asked reporters at his battered compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Earlier, Nabil Abu Rudeina, a senior aide to Mr Arafat, said the Palestinian leader had told the Palestinian delegation in Jordan that "the most important thing is that we have a personal commitment by [US] President [George W] Bush to implement the roadmap as it is and completely".

The United States and Israel have sidelined Mr Arafat from the diplomatic scene, accusing him of failing to stop attacks by Palestinian militants.

He has been largely confined to his headquarters since December, 2001, when Israel poured tanks into the West Bank following a spate of suicide bombings.

Sharon 'betrayal'

Up to 40,000 demonstrators packed into a square in central Jerusalem to denounce Israel's concessions.

ROADMAP MAIN POINTS

Phase 1 (to May 2003): End to Palestinian violence; Palestinian political reform; Israeli withdrawal and freeze on settlement expansion; 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

John Wolf, new US envoy

"What you [Sharon] are doing is giving birth to a monster of terror," Israeli Housing Minister Effi Eitam told the cheering crowd.

Israeli sources said security around Mr Sharon has been tightened because of possible threats from extremist Jews.

Radical Palestinian groups have also rejected Abu Mazen's pledge to end the intifada.

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz will hold talks with aides on implementing steps in the roadmap, Israel public radio reported.

The radio said measures to dismantle rogue settlements could be taken next week.

The Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now says there are more than 100 settlement outposts in the West Bank, land which the Palestinians want for a future state.

Israeli media said only about 15 are likely to be removed.