BEIJING, Aug. 24 -- In December 2003, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon first put forward a plan for "unilateral removal" of Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip and the "disengagement plan" for the country's troops.

    The historic implementation of the pullout plan has attracted the world's attention.

    But there has been a mixed reaction to the disengagement, particularly within Israel itself.

    According to a poll conducted by Tel Aviv University, 60 per cent of Israelis are in favour of the plan, and 30 per cent are against it.

    There is some scepticism in the international community, with convergent views on the potential consequences of the unilateral pullout plan.

    The Bush administration in the United States welcomed the Israeli Government's decision, believing it could clear the way for the implementation of the "roadmap" put forward by US President George W. Bush and jointly overseen by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

    But much of the world's media suggest Sharon's Gaza pullout is only aimed at consolidating 58 per cent of the West Bank regions, now under Israeli control.

    Following the withdrawal, it is not clear whether the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas can successfully pacify extremist Islamic groups Jihad and Hamas and set up a sustainable government.

    As a friend of both Palestine and Israel, how does China look upon the current Israeli-Palestinian situation and the future direction of the relationship?

    The Chinese Government has held a consistent position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its settlement.

    To achieve a lasting solution to the generations-long conflict, the principle of "Land for Peace," the directions drawn up in the "roadmap," and political talks should be in the minds of every party concerned, the Chinese Government has consistently insisted.

    Resolution 242, passed by the UN Security Council on November 22, 1967, asked for a "withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and "respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area."

    The two sentences were later called the "Land for Peace" principle.

    Within Israel there have always been political forces set against the principle, such as Benjamin Netanyahu, the former prime minister and finance minister, who resigned from Sharon's cabinet on the eve of the implementation of the disengagement plan.

    He criticized Israel's Gaza pullout for being a unilateral reward for Palestine that goes against the country's long-held national policies.

    But the fact is, due to Israel's illegitimate occupation of the Palestinian territory, Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip have been living in fear for the past 38 years, prompting the Israeli Government to send more troops than the number of settlers to protect them.

    Following the pullout plan, these Israeli settlers will return to their own country and relative safety, and the troops stationed there will be relieved.

    The "Quartet Roadmap" was formally put forward by Bush on June 24, 2003 and was finally agreed upon by the EU, UN and Russia after the United States held two rounds of discussions on July 16 and September 17 of the same year.

    According to this arrangement, the Palestinian Authority should immediately take measures to stop all violent activities targeting Israel, and Israel should dismantle all settlements in the occupied territories built and expanded since March 2001.

    An independent Palestinian state should be established by the end of 2005 with the help of the international community.

    One of the fundamental tenets of the roadmap is that Israel and Palestine should resolve conflicts through negotiations. But Israel's Gaza pullout, which is not the result of talks, was once called a "unilateral action" and opposed by the Palestinian side.

    Later, US President Bush gave the plan the green light, seeing it as a prelude to the implementation of the "Quartet Roadmap."

    An important factor to consider is the influence of the Cold War. Israel always worried about the threat to its national security posed by neighbouring countries, and thus adopted a "deterrence strategy."

    But since the end of the Cold War Israeli national security has been guaranteed. The largest threat to the country today is internal. The "deterrence strategy" is no longer relevant.

    Only by realizing peace with the Palestinians and neighbouring countries can Israeli citizens' individual safety be ensured.

    Political discussions are the only viable path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is best demonstrated by the frequent consultations conducted by Israel and Palestine prior to the pullout.

    We can see a ray of hope suggesting a resumption of the peace process, despite the uncertainty.

    But peace cannot be achieved overnight unremitting efforts from all parties concerned must be made. With a cautiously optimistic attitude we continue to pay attention to developments in the Middle East.

    (Source: China Daily)