US envoy arrives for mideast peace talks

Israel and the Palestinians today said they had reservations about a new US peace plan, as Washington launched its most ambitious mediation mission in months.

Assistant US Secretary of State William Burns arrived in the region today to hold talks with both sides about the three-stage plan, a blueprint for Palestinian statehood by 2005.

But both sides said the plan, which also has the backing of the United Nations, Russia and the European Union, is too vague on crucial points.

The plan has not been made public, but officials have revealed some details.

Israel said it would be required to withdraw troops from parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the first stage, without guarantees that the Palestinian security forces would do more to prevent attacks on Israelis.

“The test of performance is being applied to Israel, but not to the other side,” said Raanan Gissin, an adviser to Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians need stronger US guarantees regarding the timetable and implementation, including international monitors.

Burns’ mission is also seen as an attempt to keep a lid on Mideast tensions at a time when the US is trying to build support among Arab states for a possible US attack on Iraq.

He was to hold talks with Sharon and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres before meeting Palestinian officials tomorrow. Burns will not meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in keeping with a US boycott.

Also today, troops demolished the homes of two Palestinians involved in shooting attacks on Israelis. One house was razed in the Al Ain refugee camp in the West Bank, and the second in the Gaza Strip’s Rafah refugee camp.

In Rafah, 20 bystanders, including four children, were hurt by shrapnel when the house was blown up, doctors said.

In Israel, a government coalition crisis was brewing over the dismantling of Israeli settlement outposts in the West Bank by soldiers.

Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said he would pull his moderate Labour party out of the government unless Sharon reins in far-right Cabinet Minister Effie Eitam, a staunch supporter of the settlers.

In a Cabinet meeting this week, Eitam called Ben-Eliezer a fool, a liar and a coward for ordering troops to dismantle some of the outposts. Sharon last night reprimanded him for his comments.