Partners on Mideast Peace Plan Call for Calm

The United States and its partners, in the latest bid to revive a faltering Middle East peace plan, Friday called on both Israel and the Palestinians to do more “immediately and simultaneously” to address each others’ concerns, but emphasized that the cycle of violence must end as a first step.

The United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia also pledged that their representatives would travel more regularly to the region to generate momentum toward a peace deal.

But in a replay of their policy split on Iraq, the United States is balking at a French proposal to hold an international conference on the peace process. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Friday that the Bush administration does not see “an immediate purpose” for an alternative effort proposed this week by French President Jacques Chirac.

The “road map,” a peace plan unveiled in late April, has been stalled since a wave of suicide bombings erupted this summer. Its deadline for a temporary Palestinian state by year’s end is in jeopardy, endangering the goal of a permanent solution by the end of 2005.

At a news conference attended by representatives of the so-called quartet, which designed the plan, Powell said the road map was “still valid.” He warned, however, that the process hangs on whether the Palestinians are able to sort out a power struggle among their leaders and consolidate security forces to dismantle militant groups.

“We are now waiting to see whether or not the Palestinian people are able to put in place, through their own system, a prime minister who will enjoy political authority and control over all the security forces so that we can start moving again down the path laid out by the road map,” Powell told reporters.

The new Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Korei, said Friday that he expects to present his proposed Cabinet soon. But U.S. officials are concerned that Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat is retaining too much power in selecting the Cabinet and holding on to control of security forces. Unlike the previous prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, Korei has said he will not challenge Arafat.

Powell said the peace process would be “continuously frustrated” if the Palestinians did not have a leader who would rein in extremist groups.

In his own statement after the Friday meeting in New York, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan indicated support for more ambitious international action to prevent an escalation of violence.

Annan said the time had come for bold steps to prevent “long-term conflict and instability.”

“It seems to me that bold steps, in keeping with the road map, are now necessary to salvage peace. Small steps have not worked. They are unlikely to work in the future,” Annan told reporters. “The current dangerous impasse can only be broken through ... revitalized and active international involvement.”

In a joint statement, the quartet reminded “both parties of the need to take into account long-term consequences of their actions.”

The quartet specifically called on the Palestinians to ensure that a “rebuilt and refocused” security force launches “sustained, targeted and effective operations” to confront and dismantle militant groups.

While recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense, the quartet also urged the Jewish nation to “take no action undermining trust,” ease the Palestinians’ humanitarian and economic plight and not destroy Palestinian institutions. It also noted “with great concern” the construction of a new barrier fencing off the West Bank from Israel.

But in private, the quartet was apparently not so united. In the closed-door session -- also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Igor S. Ivanov, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini -- Annan said there may be growing political support for other alternatives, such as a multinational buffer or monitoring force if the situation deteriorates further, said an official who attended the meeting.

In the past, Israel has rejected outright proposals for international monitors to play a role in the conflict.

Annan, reflecting the diversity of opinion among the quartet, faulted the Israelis for not fulfilling some of their obligations. He said Israel should stop building Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory and destroying Palestinian homes and infrastructure, the source added.

The U.N. leader criticized Arafat for bringing down Abbas, but warned that Arafat cannot be ignored in the peace process, a position shared by the Europeans and Russia.

The Russians were the most critical of Israel. Ivanov said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not appear to want the process aimed at creating a permanent Palestinian state to succeed, the official said.

Arab officials in the United States for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly have been urging the Bush administration over the last week to take a stronger action to prevent the road map from becoming another failed peace effort.

“It’s the only game in town [and] we can’t let it die,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said in an interview. “Only the United States can lean on both sides. If we leave it to them, it won’t work.”