Road Map To Where?

Virtually within hours of the much-publicized declaration by the U.S. president and the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers of their commitment to bringing about Middle East peace events on the ground called into question where their so-called "Road Map" was heading. Israeli forces attempted to assassinate a senior leader of Hamas, killing several Palestinian civilians in the process, and several Israeli civilians were killed by a suicide bomber. Shortly afterward another Hamas leader was targeted and killed by the Israelis, there was another suicide bombing and dozens more Palestinian and Israeli civilians were killed or injured.

The response of the U.S. was to loudly condemn Hamas and other Palestinian militants, while offering only a gentle rebuke that Israeli actions were "not helpful". In response, the Israeli government declared that it reserved the right to attack what it calls "ticking bombs". Whether this refered to actual suicide bombers or all members of Palestinian organizations was deliberately left unclear.

Meanwhile, as a token show of its commitment to the "Road Map", the Israeli government pledged to dismantle 60 illegal settler "outposts". However, only one such outpost was dismantled in front of dozens of television cameras, while the construction of several new outposts continued with tacit government support. On June 22, Prime Minister Sharon is reported to have told his cabinet that ongoing construction of settlements is fine but it should just not be broadcast widely.

Construction of the huge Israeli separation wall, with its trenches, electric wire and watchtowers, is also continuing in the West Bank. Land confiscation, checkpoints, closures, arbitrary arrests, house demolitions, and daily violence and humiliation also continue to be a fact of life for the Palestinian population. These conditions recently prompted a British member of parliament on her return from the occupied territories to compare the conditions for Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip with that of Jews living in the Warsaw Ghetto under Nazi occupation.

In response to a ceasefire declared by Hamas and other Palestinian organizations, the Israeli government has withdrawn from some sections of the Gaza Strip, which it had planned to do prior to the ceasefire. It has also withdrawn from some sections of Bethlehem, while consolidating its hold over other sections of the city. The central highway has been partially opened, but Israeli forces stand poised to shut it down again at a moment's notice. The Israeli government has stated that further withdrawals are not being contemplated at this time.

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon has also supposedly agreed to a Palestinian request for the release of Palestinian prisoners. However, he has vetoed the release of any prisoners with "blood on their hands"or any members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. As a result, of the several thousand Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails only 300 were slated for release, including many common criminals and prisoners who had served their sentences and were due to be released anyhow. Under pressure from Washington, Sharon agreed to release an additional 100 prisoners (including some members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad) who were convicted of very minor infractions, such as curfew violations.

Despite the fact that Israel has failed to deliver on a single of its obligations to the "Road Map", the Bush administration has been increasing the pressure on Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to outlaw Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups and to round up their members.. Abbas has now announced that he will comply with the demand to outlaw the militant groups, but there is no indication that he is prepared to take any action against them. It is quite obvious that to do so will result in a civil war amongst the Palestinians, something which would greatly please the Sharon regime, but which would do nothing to foster peace in the region

Whether this "Road Map" - which does not even tackle some of the fundamental issues such the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees and establishing borders - will follow the failed path of previous attempts to resolve the crisis remains to be seen. However, its failure so far to fulfill any of its obligations under the "Road Map" certainly calls into question the commitment of the Israeli government to the process.