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Olmert unveils peace plan

Atul Aneja

Israel willing to withdraw from West Bank, free detenus

Ehud Olmert

DUBAI: A day after agreeing to a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert has unveiled a string of steps that could lead to serious peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Speaking at the grave of the Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, Mr. Olmert said the return of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Palestinian militants in June, would mark the beginning of a new initiative.

"With Gilad Shalit's release and his return safe and sound to his family, the Israeli Government will be willing to release many Palestinian prisoners, even those who have been sentenced to lengthy terms," he said. Corporal Shalit's captors had said that they would free him if Palestinian prisoners languishing in Israeli jails were released. Mr. Olmert urged Palestinians to give up violence and return to peace talks.

However, he pointed out that the demand for the return of Palestinian refugees displaced in earlier wars within Israeli borders should be given up. In case the Palestinians agreed to peace talks, Israel would retract from large portions of the West Bank, where a string of settlements have been established.

Besides, transit through checkpoints would be eased and Palestinian funds that have been frozen would be released.

Addressing the Palestinian people directly, Mr. Olmert said past bitterness should not be allowed to get into the way of progress.

"We cannot change the past and we will not be able to bring back the victims on both sides of the borders," he said. "All that we have in our hands to do today is to stop additional tragedies."

Reciprocating Mr. Olmert's offer, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians were ready to negotiate a final peace deal under the stewardship of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

However, the senior Palestinian official stressed that for any progress, the fragile ceasefire, currently in place, must hold. "That will open the key to a political horizon," he said.

Mr. Olmert's proposals precede an expected flurry of international diplomacy surrounding and developments in Iraq and along the Israel-Palestinian track.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, has expressed scepticism about Mr. Olmert's offer. "This is a conspiracy. This is a new manoeuvre. [Mr.] Olmert is speaking about the Palestinian state without giving details about the borders," said Ghazi Hamad, a Government spokesman.

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