US to Block Mid-East 'Roadmap' Until After Israeli Polls

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 19, 2002

US to Block Mid-East 'Roadmap' Until After Israeli Polls

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The United States said on Wednesday it would block the adoption of a 'roadmap' on Middle East peace until after Israel's elections next month, in a stinging diplomatic rebuff to Europe and the Palestinians.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said the international diplomatic quartet on the Middle East would not finalise the plan on Friday at a ministerial level meeting, despite firm calls for such a move from Europe and Jordan.

Israel has heaped pressure on the US to withhold support for the document, which calls for a Palestinian state by 2005, until after its elections on Jan 28.

The quartet groups the United States, Russia, the EU and the United Nations.

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, representing the current EU presidency, on Wednesday made clear European disappointment at the US decision.

'It is very important that Israel knows that it must end with two states,' he said.

He also delivered a strong warning to Israel that continuing to build settlements in the West Bank and Gaza would undermine hopes for peace.

Suggestions of a damaging EU-US rift on Middle East policy have multiplied throughout the year, with some European observers viewing the Bush administration hawks as too lenient towards Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The European Union said in a declaration at its Copenhagen summit last week that the roadmap, based on what US officials say is President George W Bush's 'vision' for the Middle East, should be endorsed on Friday.

Source: Agencies

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