U.S. Commends Israeli Cabinet For Approving Gaza Plan
Plan to leave Gaza "courageous and historic step" says White House
Following is the text of the June 6 White House statement welcoming the approval of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan by the government of Israel:
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Sea Island, Georgia)
June 6, 2004
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
Israeli Cabinet Decision Approving the Prime Minister's Disengagement Plan
We welcome the Government of Israel's decision to approve Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan. As we have said, we view the Prime Minister's plan to withdraw all settlements in Gaza and certain settlements in the West Bank as a courageous and historic step. We urge that practical preparatory work to implement the plan now proceed as rapidly as possible in Israel. We also urge that the international community, working through the Quartet and with the governments of Egypt and Jordan, engage in rapid and continuing consultations with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to help prepare for these withdrawals and make them a successful step toward peace.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
Country: United States of America
Subject: Peace process, Settlements, Statehood-related
Publication Date: 07/06/2004