Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East

The Secretary-General welcomes today's agreement between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, by which Israeli forces will withdraw from agreed positions first in the Gaza Strip and then in Bethlehem. The Palestinian Authority will resume security responsibility in the areas concerned.

He looks forward to continued implementation of the Road Map, leading to a permanent settlement of the conflict based on Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967) 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002).

The Secretary-General commends the vital role played by the United States in facilitating this critically important agreement.