'Geneva accord' irks Israel

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GENEVA -- Israeli officials are fuming over Swiss funding for an unofficial peace agreement negotiated by Israeli liberals and moderate Palestinians in Geneva, which will debut later this month at a signing ceremony with former President Jimmy Carter.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry called in the Swiss charge d'affaires early last week to express its displeasure at the Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, for funding the project and promoting the plan in the United Nations and other diplomatic forums.

The United States, whose approval the sponsors consider key to the plan's viability, appeared more open to the scheme when a copy was presented to David Satterfield, deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs.

"We will be reviewing this document and welcome the interest in advancing the cause of Middle East peace exhibited by the participants," said one U.S. official, who added that Washington remains committed to the "road map" peace plan proposed by President Bush on June 24.

That plan calls for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel by 2005

The "Geneva accord," as it is being called, is far more detailed, with 50 pages of annexes, formulas and maps that tackle issues that have been deal-breakers in previous peace talks -- such as the final political status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and the status of Palestinian refugees -- including compensation for the loss of property.

"You have both sides willing to go to the end of the road. This is very significant," said Pierre Allen, dean of economic and social sciences at the University of Geneva and a member of the Swiss academic team that facilitated the secret two-year discussions between Israeli and Palestinian teams in Europe and the Middle East.

Key figures in the initiative included former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian Minister of Information Yasser Abed Rabbo.

"The road map is the only game in town," said Alexis Keller, a Geneva-based academic, who also played a key role in the process but was quick to add the Geneva accord provides details on how to negotiate the third phase of the road map.