Muasher criticizes Israel

The Jordanian foreign minister Marwan Muasher criticized statements made by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in which he rejected any role by the so-called Quartet committee to solving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

In statements quoted on Tuesday Muasher said that these statements do not show the seriousness of the Israeli government, adding that there is an international consensus, including the USA, on the need of ending the Israeli occupation and the establishment of the Palestinian state on the ground of 1967 borders.

The Jordanian foreign minister said "we have stressed repeatedly that our dealing with any Israeli government in the future will be built on the extent of its dealing or not with the issue of Road Map plan and commitment to ending the Israeli occupation."

However, the Road Map, prepared by the Quartet committee that includes the USA, Russia, the UN and the European Union calls for a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians composed of three phases that will be at the ultimate end conducive to the foundation of a Palestinian state by the fall 2005.