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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Tuesday the United States will discuss Israel's reservations about the newly published roadmap peace plan in coming days, Israel Radio reported.
The roadmap, widely expected to be a fundamental solution to the Palestinian issue, was presented to Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) immediately after Mahmoud Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, was sworn in as first ever Palestinian prime minister on April 30.
In the wake of the release, the two conflicting sides responded differently to the US-backed peace plan, with PNA accepting it while Israel asking for over 15 modifications.
The right of return for Palestinian refugees is one of the toughest issues among Israel's reservations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said at his meeting with US special envoy William Burns on Sunday that "the Israeli public would not accept the peace plan" provided the Palestinians do not first give up the right of return for refugees.
Burns, who also met with Abbas, said US President George W. Bush was determined to "seize the real opportunity" to help promote the peace process.
Both sides have serious obligations to meet in order to put an end to the 31-month-old violence and establish an independent Palestinian state by 2005, Burns said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2003)
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