Palestinian PM, Israeli defense minister to try to jumpstart road map

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad confirmed Thursday that he will be working with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on trying to carry out the first phase of the dormant "road map" peace plan. The US security coordinator in the region, Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, is to join the two in the effort. Israeli defense officials weren't immediately available for comment. Fayyad said Thursday that the three have not started working yet, but said implementing the first phase of the road map will be the key to the success of the US-hosted Mideast conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November or December. "If we want the Annapolis conference to be a successful one, and if we want the peace process to get back on track, we have to implement the first phase of the road map, and it is possible to implement it," he said.