Palestinian cabinet approval clears way for peace plan

In a move that was expected finally to clear the way for the long-awaited release of the "road-map" for a Middle East peace plan, the Palestinian parliament voted a new government into power yesterday. After a fractious debate, the parliament voted by 51 votes to 18, with three abstentions, to approve the government headed by the Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

President George Bush, has promised to release the "road-map" once Mr Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, takes power, and Tony Blair has staked much of his personal credibility on a commitment to see the plan released. The plan, drawn up by America, Russia the European Union and the United Nations, calls for an independent Palestinian state within three years.

With last night's decision by the Palestinian parliament, all obstacles to the plan's release now appear to have been cleared. The vote came after a dramatic speech by Mr Abbas in which he unequivocally denounced violence and pledged to disarm Palestinian militants. "We denounce terrorism by any party and in all its forms, both because of our religious and moral traditions and because we are convinced that such methods do not lend support to a just cause like ours, but rather destroy it," Mr Abbas said.

With those comments he did from the outset what Yasser Arafat, who sat beside him, failed to do for two years: condemned the violence.

"Ending the armed chaos, which carries a direct threat to the security of the citizen, will be one of our fundamental missions. There is no place for weapons except in the hands of the government," Mr Abbas told the parliament, gathered in one of the few buildings still standing amid the ruins of Mr Arafat's Muqata presidential compound, bulldozed by the Israeli army last year. It was a clear challenge to the militant factions who have killed hundreds of people in suicide bombings and other attacks.

Political leaders from both Hamas, the most powerful militant group, and Islamic Jihad replied within hours. They had no intention of giving up their arms, they said.

But Mr Abbas was equally uncompromising when he suddenly broke off in the middle of his speech to address some remarks directly to the Israeli general public. "The choice is yours – either real peace or the continuation of occupation and hatred," he said. "The Palestinian people will not expect less than their rights: the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, the [geographic] unity of the state and an end to settlements."

The road-map calls for a Palestinian state with only provisional borders at first, according to diplomats. It leaves the final borders and other difficult issues – such as the status of Jerusalem and the future of existing Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, which are illegal under international law – to be negotiated.

Mr Abbas said he would oppose Israeli attempts to have the road-map changed from its current, supposedly final draft.

It was a bravura performance, all the more so from a man who has almost never made a political speech in public before. Outlining a programme that is ambitious, to say the least, he spoke not only about his government's policies in the peace process, but also about the economy, pensions – a sore subject among Palestinians – cracking down on corruption, and setting up a working judicial system.

The contrast with Mr Arafat, who entered the room side by side with Mr Abbas in a choreographed show of unity and spoke before him, could not have been more stark. Where Mr Arafat's speech was full of his usual flights of fancy – including personal thanks to the presidents of China and India for their help in the peace process – Mr Abbas's was full of substance.

But plenty of dangers lie ahead for Mr Abbas – not least from Mr Arafat, who still retains much of the real power, as he proved last week by blocking the cabinet until, it is believed, Western diplomats came up with some really nasty threats. On the Palestinian street, Mr Abbas has little support. There is the danger of a confrontation if he tries to disarm the militants.

The Road-Map

The main provisions of the Bush proposal (which would happen in three stages):

* A provisional Palestinian state this year before a final settlement in 2005

* An end to Palestinian violence and the freezing of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as opening steps

* A new constitution written by the Palestinian government, the revision of electoral laws as part of broad political, economic and judicial reforms, and free and fair elections

* An end to settlement activity by Israel, dismantling outposts built since March 2001 and withdrawing from Palestinian areas occupied since 28 September 2000

* The final phase, to be launched at an international conference early next year, would aim to resolve by 2005 the most divisive issues: the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees and permanent borders.