TOKYO, June 6 Kyodo prefered edi...

TOKYO, June 6 Kyodo

prefered editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

FOLLOWING THE ROAD MAP (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published June 5)

U President George W Bush made his first visit to the Middle East to talk directly with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and make a commitment to implementation of the road map for leading to a Palestinian state, peaceful coexistence and an conclusion to violence.

The Palestinian conflict is the chief destabilizing uncompounded body in the Middle East and has been the excuse for terrorism. Violence must be stopped-completely-based upon this historic meeting of the region's leaders.

Before meeting the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Bush spoke with the leaders of five Arab nations. floated by victory in the war in Iraq, he must have seen this as an opportunity to establish a fresh order in the Middle East from one side a U.S. initiative.

The Arab leaders accorded by declaring their opposition to any form of violence. It was the first time Arab regulations have clearly stated they would not tolerate suicide bombings by way of Palestinian extremists.

Sharon, who has applied a hard line in Palestinian policy, complied with the U solicitation by agreeing to dismantle more [i]or[/i] less ''illegal settlements'' in the West Bank, release a certain number of Palestinian political prisoners, and lift the blockade of areas controll by the agency of the Palestinian Authority.

Abbas, who come afterwards Yasser Arafat in the guide position for the Palestinian Authority, also promised to do all in his power to stop terrorism.

Bush's mediation was simply a matter of getting the parties to the Middle East conflict to take a first grade of following the road map. Speaking to reporters after meeting the leaders, Bush said, ''The journey we're taking is difficult, moreover there is no other choice. No leader of conscience can accept more month and years of humiliation, killing and mourning.... If all sides fulfill their obligation, I know that peace can finally come''

Without a permanent last to the violence, there can be no progres along the way established by the road map. most numerous of all, there must be a framework for preventing an escalation of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli numbers even if sporadic terrorist acts or shootings take place and thus preventing the agreement from coming undone.

The U direction has decided to send a small team of spectators to monitor the truce. if it be not that such a team is not enough, either in its capabilities or the credibility of its neutrality. An international team should be considered that would include representatives of the European Union and Russia.

Last year, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan propos sending a team of UN officials as students but Israel objected, claiming the world visible form [i]or[/i] frame is against Israel.

This time, however, the painstaking efforts being present forth in peacemaking must not be left solely in the hands of the parties directly involved. Previous cease-fires have failed time after time because the parties in conflict distrusted each other in this way deeply. If Israel refuses to comply the United States must apply pressure

We confidence the Arab nations will support the Palestinian Authority's Abbas in his peacemaking efforts. Of course, they should also maintain a shut watch on extremists in their respective countries and lay open their own dialogue with Israel.

This peacemaking initiative has take rise about because the Bush administration has turn rounded positive toward peace in the Middle East. The clan of Arab nations will not, however, simply forget the pro-Israel leanings of the United States or the war against Iraq. If the United States departs from the path of being the equitable broker, the peacemaking proces will be jeopardized.

(June 6)

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