Palestinian Arab Violations of "Road Map" Plan: A Survey of Week #47: March 16, 2004 - March 22, 2004

This report analyzes Palestinian Arab violations of those obligations during the 47th week following the unveiling of the Road Map plan, March 16 - March 22, 2004.

I. "Cease All Violence"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map states: "In Phase 1 [May 2003], the Palestinians immediately undertake an unconditional cessation of violence." They did not do so.

What They Did During Week #47: During week #47, March 16 - March 22, 2004, there were at least 32 terrorist attacks or attempted attacks, in which 1 person were murdered and 9 wounded.

(During the first 47 weeks since the Road Map was issued, there have been a total of at least 1,079 Palestinian Arab terrorist attacks or attempted attacks, in which 175 people were murdered and 902 wounded.)

The PA's official "Palestine Media Center" reported on January 15, 2004 that PA Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath (see www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=1&id=1177) said the PA "is capable to stop all anti-Israeli attacks provided the Israelis reciprocate in kind." In fact, the Road Map requires the PA to stop all attacks regardless of Israeli "reciprocation." Despite that requirement, attacks continued:

March 16: A 10 year-old Palestinian Arab boy armed with a large bomb was intercepted on his way to an attack near Shechem (Nablus) ... An 11 year-old Palestinian Arab boy with a bomb was later arrested in the same area.

March 17: Two terrorists intercepted while planting bombs in Gaza ... Terrorists intercepted while laying mines in Gaza ... Shooting attack on Israeli motorists near Shilo ... Shooting attack on motorists near Avnei Hafetz ... Bomb planted on the approach road to Itamar.

March 18: Shooting attack and bombs thrown at Israeli soldiers in Gaza ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers in Tulkarm ... Shooting attack on an Israeli Army checkpoint near Tulkarm ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers near Kadim ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers at the Karnei Crossing.

March 19: Shooting attack on a jogger in the French Hill section of Jerusalem; one murdered ... Terrorists intercepted on their way to hijack an Israeli bus ... Bomb attack on an Israeli tank near Netzarim; four soldiers wounded ... Terrorist intercepted in the Hebron region, on his way to carry out a suicide bombing ... Attack on motorists on the Trans-Samaria Highway ... Firebombs thrown at motorists on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road between near El-Aroub.

March 20: Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

March 21: Anti-tank missile fired at Israeli soldiers in Khan Yunis ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers in Khan Yuunis.

March 22: Seven mortar rockets fired at Neve Dekalim ... Axe attack in Ramat Gan; three wounded ... Mortar rocket fired at an Israeli town in the Negev ... Attack on a Jewish youth in the Old City section of Jerusalem; one wounded ... Motorists attacked near Tekoah; one infant wounded ... Shooting attack on an Israeli convoy near Netzarim ... Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers along the Israel-Egypt border ...Shooting attack on Israeli soldiers in Shechem (Nablus) ... Shooting attack on the Tomb of Rachel, near Bethlehem ... Attack on an Israeli Army vehicle near Migdalim ... Rocket fired at a Jewish town in northern Gaza.

II. "Call for Recognizing Israel and Ending Violence" What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian Arabs to "issue an unequivocal statement reiterating Israel's right to exist in peace and security and calling for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere."

What They Did During Week #47: No such statement was issued.

III. "Arrest, Disrupt, and Restrain Terrorists"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian Arabs to "undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere."

What They Did During Week #47: No such steps were taken.


IV. "Confiscate Terrorists' Weapons"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian Arabs to "commence confiscation of illegal weapons."

What They Did During Week #47: No such steps were taken.

V. "Dismantle the Terrorist Infrastructure"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian Arabs to carry out the "dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure."

What They Did During Week #47: The PA did not outlaw Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, or any other terrorist groups; there were no reports of the PA shutting down any bomb factories or terrorists' training camps; the PA continued to ignore Israel's 45 requests for the extradition of terrorists; there were no reports of the PLO leadership punishing PLO factions that are engaged in terrorism, such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).

VI. "End All Incitement"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map requires that "all official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel."

What They Did During Week #47: The PA's official newspapers, television, and radio continued to broadcast a steady stream of anti-Israel, anti-American, and pro-violence incitement, and PA officials continued to make inciting statements. In addition, there was no change in the PA's policy of inciting support for terror by publicly praising terrorists, naming streets after them, and paying salaries to imprisoned terrorists and their families.

VII. "End Arab States' Support for Terror"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map states that during May 2003, "Arab states cut off public and private funding and all other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and terror."

What They Did During Week #47: There were no reports of any Arab states cutting off their support for Palestinian Arab terrorist groups.

VIII. "Consolidate Security Forces"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map obligates the Palestinian Arabs to undertake "consolidation of security authority, free of association with terror and corruption"; and "all Palestinian security organizations are consolidated into three services reporting to an empowered interior minister."

What They Did During Week #47: Five different PA security organizations, including Force 17 and the General Intelligence, remain under Arafat's direct command. Military Intelligence, the National Security Forces, and the naval forces are also under Arafat's control. Only the remaining two security agencies are under the Interior Minister.

IX. "Institute Democratic Reforms"

What They Are Required to Do: The Road Map requires the Palestinian Arabs to undertake a number of steps to transform their brutal, corrupt dictatorial regime into a full-fledged democracy, including "action on a credible process to draft constitution for Palestinian statehood"; the holding of "free, open, and fair elections"; and "steps to achieve genuine separation of powers, including any necessary Palestinian legal reforms for this purpose."

What They Did During Week #47: No such steps were taken.