Israelis agree to road map for peace

By ANDREW BUNCOMBE in Washington and ANDREW GUMBEL

Israel announced today that it would accept the road map for peace in the Middle East, breaking weeks of deadlock and opening the way for an Israeli-Palestinian summit meeting next month to be hosted by President Bush.

The breakthrough followed tortuous negotiations with the Americans to overcome outstanding Israeli reservations about the plan without actually changing it - a semantic paradox whose resolution will be key to pushing the peace process forward.

The Israelis finally agreed to the road map after the White House issued a statement promising to listen to their concerns.

The plan will be presented to the Israeli cabinet when it next meets on Sunday, and is expected to be approved by the beginning of next week.

President Bush said he would now "strongly consider" meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

"If a meeting advances progress toward two states living side by side in peace, I will strongly consider such a meeting," he said.

Geneva, or the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, are possible venues for such a summit.

A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said Israel was "ready to accept the steps which are outlined in the road map" .

At the same time, US officials insisted the map would not be changed.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, attending a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris, said: "We have told the Israeli government that we would take their comments into consideration and address them fully and seriously as we went forward in the implementation of the road map but this does not require us to change the road map.

"The road map, drawn up by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, sets out a series of reciprocal steps intended to lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in 2005.

- INDEPENDENT