OCCUPIED
JERUSALEM, November 20 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - A
defiant Israel vowed Thursday, November 20, to ignore a United Nations
resolution endorsing the "roadmap" for peace plan, saying it
would also push on with its West Bank separation barrier despite sharp
criticism from U.S. President George W. Bush.
"It
is possible that we will hold talks with the new Palestinian
government on the basis of the roadmap but … Israel does not feel
that it is bound by the resolution," Israeli Trade Minister Ehud
Olmert was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as saying.
Olmert
is the official number two to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Despite
strong objections from Israel and initial opposition from the United
States, the council voted unanimously for the Russian-backed
resolution to put its stamp of approval on the plan, which envisages a
Palestinian state by 2005.
But
a government statement said Israel would only accept judgment from the
United States on how the roadmap was being implemented.
“Israel
will not accept any other intervention in implementing the plan,"
it added.
The
Palestinians welcomed the resolution passed late Wednesday, but said
what they called Israel’s "refusal" to implement the
roadmap should result in sanctions.
"We
appeal to the quartet (the United States, United Nations, European
Union and Russia) to take practical measures by declaring sanctions
against Israel for its refusal to implement the roadmap," said
Nabil Abu Rudeina, the chief advisor to Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat.
“The
fact that Israel insists on conditions and the fact that it is not
applying the roadmap proves that it is looking to sabotage all efforts
at finding peace in the region," he charged.
The
roadmap, sponsored by the diplomatic quartet and launched in June
2003, was grudgingly accepted by Israel but the government said it
would seek modifications.
Under
its terms, Israel is obliged to freeze all Jewish settlement activity
in the occupied territories and dismantle all settlement outposts.
U.S.-Israeli
Differences
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The
U.N. says the wall will lead to severe humanitarian consequences
for more than 680,000 Palestinians
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In
the meantime, Bush, in a sign of growing exasperation with Israel,
called on Sharon's government during a speech Wednesday "to
freeze settlement construction, dismantle unauthorized outposts, end
the daily humiliation of the Palestinian people and not prejudice
final negotiations with the placement of walls and fences," in
reference to the West Bank barrier.
Israel
has been accused of flouting the roadmap by inviting tenders last
month for the building of 323 apartments in the West Bank.
The
Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now also released a report
earlier this week saying there were now 103 settlement outposts in the
West Bank.
Sharon
acknowledged differences with the United States after Bush's speech
during a state visit to London.
“It
is true that there are issues which we do not see the same way, but
the special nature of our friendship allows for our friendship to
continue even when we are not in agreement on everything," he
told Israeli TV.
The
Palestinians said Bush should follow up his criticism of the West Bank
barrier, which at times cuts deep into their land, by putting pressure
on Israel to halt its construction.
But
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said construction would
continue apace, insisting the project was merely designed to prevent
attacks.
"We
are doing everything we can to put up this fence that will prevent
infiltrations," he said.
A
U.N. report unveiled Israel's controversial West Bank separation wall
will lead to severe humanitarian consequences for more than 680,000
Palestinians (30 percent).
Israel
also said the roadmap commits the Palestinians to ensure "a
cessation of terror, dismantling the resistance organizations and
carrying out full reform of the Palestinian administration".
Palestinian
premier Ahmed Qorei held talks Wednesday with leaders of factions such
as Hamas and Islamic Jihad in a bid to persuade them to halt their
attacks on Israel.
The
talks ended
without any firm commitment from the groups, who said that Israel
should first halt its almost-daily aggressions against the
Palestinians.
