Abbas to press for active US peacemaking role

MIDDLE EAST: When they meet today, the Palestinian leader, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to press the US Secretary of State, Ms Condoleezza Rice, to take an active mediatory role in peacemaking between the Palestinians and Israel.

Although Ms Rice has expressed a preference for the two sides moving ahead on their own, the Palestinians argue there can be no real progress unless the US is fully engaged. They cite the lack of movement during the four years of the first Bush administration and the large degree of agreement reached in the Clinton era.

Palestinian spokesmen have expressed disappointment that Ms Rice will not be present at tomorrow's summit between the Palestinian, Israeli, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders. They had hoped her participation would signify that the Bush administration is prepared to become directly involved.

Mr Abbas seeks to secure a general improvement in Israel's treatment of Palestinians, as well as a halt to Israeli attacks in exchange for a ceasefire. He wants Israel to release 230 Palestinian prisoners arrested before the signing of the Oslo accord in September 1993 as well as political detainees held since then. Israel routinely releases prisoners nearing the end of their sentences, criminals, and Palestinians detained for illegally entering Israel.

Mr Abbas insists Israel must reduce the number of checkpoints, permit Palestinian movement between towns and cities in the West Bank, remove unauthorised settler outposts and halt the expansion of settlements. He wants the US, which supports these demands, to exert pressure on Israel to deliver. He also calls for a prompt resumption of negotiations on the basis of the "road- map" peace plan drawn up by the quartet comprising the US, UN, Russia and the EU.

This plan is meant to create a viable Palestinian state within the next four years.

Unless he achieves some of his demands quickly, Palestinian sources say the window of opportunity opened by his presidency will close. Militants have vowed to resume the intifada if there is no possibility of ending the punitive Israeli occupation regime.