Handover of security over Jericho – French MOFA statement – French MOFA press release/Non-UN document (excerpts)

Handover of security to the Palestinians in Jericho (March 16, 2005)

Statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Spokesperson 

(excerpt)

(Paris, March 17, 2005)

The handover of security to the Palestinians in Jericho yesterday was a positive step. We hope it will be followed by other handovers as provided at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit on February 8, leading to Israel's withdrawal to the line of September 28, 2000, per the road map.

As it pledged in London, the international community will strengthen its cooperation with the Palestinians to help them maintain order in the Palestinian Territories.

This handover decision must of course be part of a much broader context consisting of the resumption of political negotiations between the two parties, a process undertaken since Sharm el-Sheikh.