progressively from areas occupied since September 28, 2000." Not immediately, not in one withdrawal, but bit by bit, "progressively." Not from Areas B and C, but only from Area A. They will be where they were before the present intifada.
(There is an old Jewish joke about a family that complains about being crowded together in one room. The rabbi advises them to bring in a goat, too. Later, when the family complains that life has become intolerable, the rabbi tells them to take the goat out again. Suddenly they feel that they have a lot of space. This time the Israeli army is told to remove the goat, but the Palestinians are told to remove father and mother.)
After all this, the next phase will start; the Palestinians will adopt their constitution and hold free elections, the Egyptians and Jordanians will send their ambassadors back to Israel, and the Israeli government will, at last, freeze settlement activity.
The next phase will focus on the "possible" creation of an independent Palestinian state with "provisional borders." So, long after all attacks have been stopped, there will be an "option" of creating a Palestinian state in Area A, a tiny part of what used to be Palestine. According to the Roadmap, this should happen by the end of 2003, but it is clear that, if at all, this will come about much later. It is also stated that "further action on settlements" will be a part of the process. What does this mean? Not the dismantling of a single settlement, not even the most remote and isolated one.
After all this comes about, the Quartet will decide (again unanimously-only with the agreement of the Americans) that the time has come for negotiations aimed at a "permanent status agreement," hopefully in 2005, including discussion of items such as borders, Jerusalem, refugees, and settlements. If Sharon or his successor want it, there will be an agreement. If not, then not.
The truth is, in this whole document there is not one word that Sharon could not accept. After all, with the help of Bush he can torpedo any step at any time.
To sum up: Much Ado about Nothing. As evidenced by the fact that neither Sharon nor the settlers are upset.
July 6, 2003
First thoughts after the Aqaba meeting:
Solo performance. If there had been a printed program, it would have looked something like this: