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Fed up with the fighting, a group of self-nominated Israelis and Palestinians decided to see what kind of peace plan they could negotiate. What they unveiled in Geneva with some ceremony last week reflected common sense in its substance. But politically it was the diplomatic equivalent of a high-tech start-up — full of media hype but little guarantee of success. Some Israelis and Palestinians alike were appalled that unelected delegates should negotiate when the two sides are essentially at war. Palestinian refugees said the plan would eliminate their "right of return" to homes inside Israel, while many Israelis rejected the idea of a deal that did not force Palestinians to renounce that very right. Sharon called the Geneva Accord a "historic mistake," and the West Bank leader of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah Party, Hussein Sheikh, rejected the signatories.

The accord's negotiators argue, however, that this is an important start, that someone had to present an alternative to the violent stalemate of the intifadeh and Ariel Sharon's response. Israeli peaceniks, led by former Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, said the proposal is helping Israel reignite debate over substance, which could force the Sharon government to soften its obstructionist policies. The Palestinian delegation, led by former Palestinian Authority Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, said it represents the first serious solution Palestinians and Israelis have accepted.

The problem lies less with the content of the proposal than with its implementation. Arafat responded with limited approval, perhaps because he wants to appear to be a man of peace and thus annoy Sharon. The Israeli Prime Minister has been apoplectic in his condemnation of the plan. The Bush Administration, meanwhile, seems to be lending support to Geneva only as a means of pressuring both parties into pushing ahead with Washington's idled road-map peace plan.

WHAT'S NEW
When the unofficial negotiators met in Geneva, they started from previous maps and proposals for a final settlement made at the last full negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Those talks, an attempt to build on the failed negotiations mediated by President Bill Clinton at Camp David in July 2000, were held in the Egyptian resort of Taba in January 2001. At Taba, talks broke down again over key unresolved issues, and soon after, hard-line Likud leader Ariel Sharon defeated Labor's Ehud Barak in the election for Prime Minister

BORDERS

GENEVA The border will be drawn on the Green Line, which marked the division between Israel and Jordan up to the June 1967 war. There will be some small reciprocal modifications, with land swapped in a 1-to-1 ratio

TABA The Green Line was also the basis for the border. Both sides favored land swaps, but the ratio wasn't agreed on and Israel expected to annex larger areas around settlements. The Gaza Strip was likely to go to the Palestinians

PALESTINIAN STATE

GENEVA It would be a "nonmilitarized state, with a strong security force." Weapons would be limited so the Palestinian army could not threaten Israel. Both sides would make "comprehensive and continuous efforts" to quell all violence and terrorism

TABA Israel had already accepted the idea of a nonmilitarized Palestinian state before the Taba talks. Palestinians appeared ready to accept some limitations on weaponry

JERUSALEM

GENEVA Two capitals for two states would be recognized within Jerusalem under separate sovereignties. The Palestinians would control the Haram al-Sharif, or Temple Mount, while the Western Wall would remain in Israeli hands

TABA Israel accepted the idea of two capitals in Jerusalem. Sovereignty over the Temple Mount was unresolved. Barak said he would never transfer control of the Mount to the Palestinians

REFUGEES

GENEVA Palestinians do not specifically surrender the "right of return." But compensation would be given to Palestinian refugees, as would the possibility of returning to live in the Palestinian state or emigrating to another country. Israel would agree to take a certain number of refugees within its borders

TABA Little agreement was reached. Both sides paid lip service to U.N. resolutions on Palestinian refugees, but Barak said he would never allow the "right of return"

• Matt Rees/Jerusalem