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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (left) shakes hands with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after a press conference at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. (AP)
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06/19
Haaretz |
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| By israelinsider staff and partners June 19, 2005 |
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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that both the Israelis and Palestinians agree that the settlers' homes in the Gaza Strip settlements will need to be destroyed when Israel pulls out this summer, and they will need to work together to figure out how that will happen.
"The parties agree that they have to work this out in a cooperative way," she said. "The view is that there are better land use possibilities for the Palestinians that can better address their housing needs."
The secretary of state said that her meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders convinced her that both sides share a commitment to ensuring Israel's upcoming withdrawal from Gaza takes place smoothly and peacefully.
Rice was in the region on a two-day visit intended to pressure the Israelis and the Palestinians to put aside their disagreements and cooperate on the withdrawal, which is to begin in less than two months.
In the meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that a successful and orderly pullout from the Gaza Strip would energize the peace process with the Palestinians and revive the long-stalled "road map" peace plan.
Israel has called on the Palestinians to ensure that terrorists do not use the disengagement as an opportunity to wage attacks on soldiers and police as they try to evacuate resistant settlers from Gaza.
"I believe that a smooth and successful implementation of the plan in coordination with the Palestinians will help energize the political process under the road map," Sharon said. "All this is dependent on the Palestinians stopping the terror, violence and incitement, dismantling and disarming terror groups, and implementing the needed reforms.
"This step is a very difficult one for Israel, very difficult. But we will carry out the disengagement exactly in accordance with the resolutions of the government and the Knesset," he said.
Rice, who met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday, called the pullout a "historic step" that could help lead to the creation of a Palestinian state. She said she and Sharon would discuss efforts to ensure that the pullout is accomplished peacefully and orderly.
"A successful disengagement will enhance the security of Israel and it should give a sense of confidence and trust between the Israelis and Palestinians as they look to a better future," Rice said.
Sharon said Israel was already reaping the fruits of the pullout, which has strengthened its economy and enhanced its political status.
He added that the United States has an important role to play in ensuring that the mid-August withdrawal goes smoothly.
"After so many years of terror and bloodshed the achievement of security peace and tranquility is not an easy task," Sharon said. "We hope the terror will cease so that we, Israelis and Palestinians, with the assistance of the United States, will be able to start progressing toward the peace that we all yearn for."
In a meeting later Sunday, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Rice that the pullout was a major opportunity that Israel hoped would lead to peace with the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world.
"I'm sure after the disengagement plan, it could be the appropriate time for Israel and the Arab countries to move together toward better understanding and better relations," he said.
Israel and Palestinian officials have met in recent weeks to try to ensure that Israel's pullout from Gaza and four northern West Bank settlements will not lead to chaos. No agreement has been reached.
In her meetings with Palestinian officials Saturday, Rice stressed that Abbas' new government and the Israelis must quickly settle their differences over the withdrawal plan.
"There is no more time to simply put problems on the agenda," Rice said during a joint press conference with Abbas.
"Both parties will have to do their parts," Rice said, and real coordination between them is essential.
"I am confident that if we concentrate on what is in front of us and do that well, that then we're going to be in a position to make much greater progress," Rice said. "If we don't concentrate and do this well, then we're going to be thrown back."
The AP contributed to this report.
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