The new US "road map" for peace in the Middle East presented by US Assistant Secretary of State William J. Burns is no more than a placebo for consumption by both Palestinians and the world community in response to their pressuring Israel for positive movement toward immediately ending the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.  It is also perhaps an attempt to somehow justify Bush's planned road trip to/through Iraq.

Not In My Name (NIMN) offers the following analysis and opinion of the Roadmap: the current proposal by the US, UN, EU, and Russia (the Quartet) for a peace process between Israel and Palestinians.  It is based on our Common Grounds principles that recognize the right of self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians, the need for a just settlement of the refugee issue, our opposition to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands seized in June 1967, and our call for the suspension of U.S. military aid to Israel until that occupation ends.

My first impression of Abu-Mazen was of a serious, methodical, somewhat aloof introvert.  He reminded me of a high-school principal, very different from Arafat, the impulsive extrovert, prone to personal gestures, exuding warmth to all around him.

JERUSALEM (AP)—Israel will not move forward on a U.S.-backed peace plan until Prime Minister Ariel Sharon lays out his objections in an upcoming meeting with President Bush, a senior Israeli official said Tuesday.

This could have been an important document, IF—

IF all the parties really wanted to achieve a fair compromise.