'Map' leads to U.S. dilemma in Russia-Israel conflict

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NEW YORK -- With Israel opposing a Russian push for a U.N. Security Council endorsement of the "road map" Middle East peace plan, the Bush administration is facing a tough choice between offending Israel or repudiating its own plan.

The Russian government last Thursday circulated a simple draft resolution in which the Security Council would endorse the peace initiative, which sets out steps to be taken by the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority to achieve a lasting peace between two secure and independent states.

That plan was drafted by the so-called Quartet -- the United States, Russia, United Nations and the European Union -- and has been welcomed, at least in principle, by both parties. However, the Israelis and the Palestinians each say it is up to the other to take the first steps.

Israel is especially eager to keep its affairs out of the United Nations, which is numerically dominated by nations sympathetic to the Arab view of the Middle East.

The Russians say that a council resolution would emphasize the need to get the Israelis and the Palestinians again moving along the path outlined in the road map.

But the Americans, spurred in part by Israel's resistance, are trying to keep the matter from the Security Council's chambers.

They say they do not have a problem with the concept of the resolution, only the timing.

"Talk in New York is not helpful," said a U.S. official yesterday, who acknowledged the general assessment that the peace process is stalled. "We still feel the Quartet is the best way to push these parties together to do more."

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon flew to Moscow this weekend in an unsuccessful attempt to have President Vladimir Putin withdraw the initiative.