In a letter sent yesterday to all members of the United States Congress, Palestinian Authority Minister of Negotiations Affairs, Saeb Erekat, urged US leaders to lend their support in persuading Israel to accept the Road Map during Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s May 20 meeting with US President George Bush.

Highlighting that the Palestinian Authority has already accepted the Road Map and has begun its implementation, the letter stated that the “Israeli government . . . has still not accepted the Road Map, having stalled implementation by first presenting a litany of modifications, then declaring the Road Map a “draft” and most recently demanding that Palestinians give up the rights of refugees as a pre-condition. Such dilatory tactics only serve to undermine Palestinian efforts at Road Map implementation and strengthen those who opposed the Road Map from its inception.”

“On behalf of all those who support peace in this troubled region, I urge you to lend your considerable support, along with your colleagues, to persuade Prime Minister Sharon to accept the Road Map. I understand that Mr. Sharon will be meeting with President Bush in Washington on May 20, 2003. Nothing would be more fitting for the occasion than if by that time, Israelis and Palestinians have embarked on a journey, as partners, toward peace,” the letter concluded.

The letter was accompanied by a Road Map Status Report highlighting Palestinian accomplishments in Road Map implementation. The Status Report can be viewed at http://www.nad-plo.org/eye/FactSheetRoadMapStatRep.pdf.