Israelis and Palestinians prepare for talks with Bush

Israel eased some travel restrictions and the Palestinians predicted a ceasefire soon as they prepared for a crucial three way peace summit this week with US President George Bush.

The summit, set for Wednesday in the Jordanian resort of Aqaba, marks the official launch of the road map peace plan, the latest blueprint for ending 32 months of bloody Mideast violence.

Israelis and Palestinians were considering how far they could go in the first stage of the three phase, three year plan, sponsored by the “Quartet” of mediators – the US, EU, UN and Russia.

Washington has assumed the role of initiator, inviting the Palestinian and Israeli premiers to meet Bush for peace talks.

Palestinian, Israeli and US officials have met in recent days to discuss the wording of possible declarations in which the two sides would recognise each side’s right to statehood and security.

The declarations, to be issued at the end of the Jordan summit, are required by the road map.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told his Cabinet yesterday that he would probably make a declaration committing Israel to dismantling settlement outposts set up in violation of Israeli law.

Stopping settlement construction is a key element of the peace plan.

But Sharon adviser Zalman Shoval said today that Israel did not consider all those outposts illegal and would only dismantle ones not deemed necessary for Israeli security.

Palestinians see the dozens of outposts on West Bank hilltops as efforts to further expand Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and create new obstacles to a Palestinian state.

Hard-line Israelis defend settlement building with religious and security arguments.

On the Palestinian side, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas’ government continued its efforts toward declaration of a ceasefire on attacks against Israelis by violent groups like the Islamic Hamas.

While Israel demands a crackdown, including arrest of Hamas militants, Abbas prefers to negotiate a truce.

Israeli officials bent in Abbas’ direction by saying that such a truce could be the first step of a concerted move against the violent groups. Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat – frozen out of US-backed peace moves because Israel and the US charge that he is tainted with terrorism – also said a ceasefire could be completed in the coming days.