Nazir Majally, Asharq Al-Awsat

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 6 December 2003 — Israel’s vice prime minister proposed yesterday that Israel draw its own border with the Palestinians as US pressure mounted on the Jewish state to act on the stalled road map.

In Washington, the co-authors of an unofficial Middle East peace plan met with the US secretary of state despite Israeli objections. They said they were encouraged after talks with Colin Powell and believed he saw their efforts as complementing the US-backed road map.

Leading Israeli dove Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo spoke to reporters after meeting Powell and other senior officials. They were at the State Department for nearly two hours, much longer than expected. “We were encouraged today by the words of Secretary Powell today, as yesterday we were encouraged by the words of the president (George W. Bush) who described the Geneva Accord as constructive,” Abed Rabbo said.

Bush’s decision to throw his weight behind Powell’s meeting with Beilin and Abed Rabbo has added fuel to a rare public spat between Israel and the United States.

In an interview with the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, Israeli Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert suggested that Israel pull out of most of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of Jerusalem, saying quick action is needed before Arabs outnumber Jews in areas under Israeli control. He said he had not discussed his ideas in detail with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.