The Hindu : International : Blair for new peace move in West Asia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 23, 2004

International

International

Blair for new peace move in West Asia

JERUSALEM, DEC. 22. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on Wednesday proposed holding an international conference in London next year to focus on Palestinian government and security reforms.

Mr. Blair aimed to capitalise on new optimism in the region in the wake of Yasser Arafat's death and Israel's moves to pull out of the Gaza Strip.

However, Mr. Blair said the Palestinians must crack down on militants before new peace efforts can begin, including a revival of the internationally-backed ``road map'' peace plan.

``There is not going to be any successful negotiation or peace without an end to terrorism,'' Mr. Blair said during a news conference with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. ``The absence of terrorism then can create the situation in which a proper negotiated settlement can take place.''

Mahmoud Abbas, the interim Palestinian leader who is running to replace Arafat in Jan. 9 elections, has unsuccessfully tried to negotiate a cease-fire with Palestinian militant groups.

Militants in the Gaza Strip have launched repeated mortar and rocket attacks in recent weeks on Israeli settlements and military bases.

Israeli troops raided the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza early on Wednesday in its second offensive in the past week to stop the mortar attacks. The raid on Wednesday killed a Palestinian militant, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Civilian killed

Also on Wednesday, an Israeli civilian working on constructing the West Bank separation barrier was shot by Palestinian militants and killed, according to military officials.

Mr. Sharon said that if there is a ``full cessation of terror, hostilities and incitement, the door will be open for the road map, which will change, I believe, the life of the Israelis, the Palestinians and change the situation in the region.''

``We don't see even the slightest step taken by the Palestinians. I understand there are elections now ... but they are not doing even the slightest effort,'' he said in his first openly critical remarks about Mr. Abbas since Arafat's death.

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