Walls to peace

There is growing concern in the Arab world over Israel's continuing refusal to make any conciliatory measures towards the Palestinians. The feeling that the US must pressure Israel into at least accommodating the possibility of peace -- it is doing everything possible to subvert the process -- grows daily. Washington, the main sponsor of the Middle East peace process, must be seen to be playing a more even hand. The recent meetings between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas with US President George Bush would have been a perfect opportunity to display such even-handedness on the part of the US administration. Sadly, it was an opportunity lost.

Among the most pressing concerns is Israel's continued refusal to release Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinians have been pushing hard for Israel to release the bulk of the 6,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails. Israel has said it will release only 540 Palestinian prisoners, less than half associated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The Palestinians rightly feel that Israel must do more to win the confidence of the Palestinians. Releasing more prisoners is an essential precondition to changing perceptions of Tel Aviv's sincerity over a peaceful settlement.

Another bone of contention between the Palestinians and the Israelis is the security barrier that Israel insists on constructing. The Israeli security fence is being built on Palestinian occupied territory and it is to be more than 1,000km long. The 1967 Green Line, tellingly, was 360km.

The UN, the EU and Russia must also become more actively involved in the Middle East peace process.

Israel evidently must be pressured into backing the roadmap initiative which it clearly remains reluctant to fully accept. The roadmap is a US-sponsored initiative, and it is up to Washington to persuade Israel to relent.