Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 14, 2008

US Mideast Envoy Criticizes 'Road Map' Violations
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B8B83C:A6F02AD83191E160A77ABD74E4060EFE7F0EB4B66EA3A89D& Retired General
William Fraser met with Israeli, Palestinian officials in Jerusalem,
Friday during visit aimed at overseeing compliance with
internationally-backed peace plan A United States envoy has launched a
new peace mission to the Middle East. As Robert Berger reports from
VOA's Jerusalem bureau, he was critical of both Israel and the
Palestinians.







Retired General William Fraser III (Jan 2008 file photo)Retired
American general William Fraser held his first meeting with Israeli
and Palestinian officials at a hotel in Jerusalem. Fraser was
appointed by President Bush to oversee compliance with the
internationally-backed "Road Map" peace plan, which is the basis of
negotiations on Palestinian statehood.

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad represented the Palestinians at the talks,
but Israel sent a lower-level official from the Defense Ministry, Amos
Gilad.

Gilad told Israel Radio that the meeting was aimed at dialogue and
advancing the peace process. He denied media reports that Defense
Minister Ehud Barak did not attend because of tension with the
Americans over the Road Map.

The U.S. issued a statement saying the meeting focused on areas where
the parties were not keeping their commitments. It did not elaborate,
but the U.S. has described Israeli settlement construction in East
Jerusalem and the West Bank as a violation of the Road Map that is
harming peace efforts.

The United States has also pressed the Palestinians to keep their Road
Map commitments and do more to rein in militant groups.

Palestinian analyst Wadia Abu Nasser believes that criticism is unfair
considering the restrictions imposed by the Israeli military.

"No doubt that Palestinian Authority security systems are doing
maximum possible efforts," he said. "Nevertheless, I believe it is
very clear to all that the real ruler of the West Bank is the Israeli
army."

Israel has rejected U.S. and Palestinian demands to freeze settlement
construction. It says it reserves the right to build in areas of
Jerusalem and in West Bank settlement blocs which, it says, will
remain a part of Israel in any final peace agreement with the
Palestinians.




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