U.S.'S LATEST "DEADLINE" FOR MID-EAST PEACE

BUSH OPPOSES THE DEMOCRATS' TIMELINE FOR WITHDRAWING FROM IRAQ .... AND THEN IMPOSES ONE ON ISRAEL.

U.S. Sets Eight-Month Timetable for Israel-Palestinian Peace Moves - Adam Entous (Reuters)
The Bush administration has drawn up an eight-month timetable setting dates for when Israeli and Palestinian leaders would complete steps meant to bolster prospects for peace talks, U.S., Israeli and Palestinian officials said. The U.S. timeline, the first of its kind presented to both sides, includes specific dates for when Washington envisages Israel letting Palestinian bus and truck convoys travel between Gaza and the West Bank. At the same time, Washington has set dates for when Mahmoud Abbas would step up deployment of his forces and take specific measures to begin curbing rocket fire by militants.

Diplomats said Secretary of State Rice was committed to the effort and that she hoped to draw up a blueprint that both sides would commit to, possibly in writing. U.S. diplomats presented the list of benchmarks late last week to Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Israeli officials said most troubling was Washington's decision to set specific dates for when Israel would begin allowing Palestinian travel between Gaza and the West Bank. "There is not conditionality. Even if they don't complete their obligations, we'll have to complete ours," a senior Israeli official said, noting that conditions had changed and that Hamas would use the convoys to extend its power to the West Bank. The U.S. document also sets specific dates for when Israel would remove roadblocks in the West Bank. (Reuters)