Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the Middle East

The Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the Government of Israel to lift the siege of President Arafat's Ramallah compound. He strongly believes that both sides should fully implement Security Council resolution 1435 immediately and return to the negotiating table. The best path away from violence and stalemate is through the roadmap set out by the Quartet in its 17 September communiqué which aims for a complete end of violence, the early establishment of a Palestinian state with provisional borders and a just and comprehensive settlement to the conflict.