Roundup: Rice's visit nails up Israeli-Palestinian ties on pullout

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, trying in her Middle East tour to boost coordination between Israel and the Palestinians over the coming Israeli Gaza pullout, has finally won steadfast verbal commitments from both sides.

Arriving in the region on Saturday for a two-day visit, Rice has been focusing her efforts on securing a successful disengagement as many believe that a failed withdrawal would mean a dead end to the US-brokered roadmap peace plan.

After separate talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, Rice said at a news conference in Jerusalem on Sunday that both Israel and the Palestinians share a commitment to ensuring a smooth and peaceful Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

"Washington steadfastly supports the disengagement plan, which calls for the evacuation of all 21 Gaza settlements and four in the northern West Bank," she said.

Rice said both the Israeli and Palestinian sides have struck a breakthrough agreement on razing down the settlers' homes in Gaza settlements slated for evacuation.

"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 Palestinian side has said it prefers the pulling down of the settlers' homes, usually of one or two storeys, so that high-rise apartment buildings can be set up to accommodate the rising Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip which currently stands at 1.3 million.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, however, strongly denied that an agreement has been reached regarding the demolition of houses in settlements.

In addition, Rice said Israel and the Palestinians have also agreed to ensure a peaceful Israeli pullout from Gaza and the northern West Bank.

"Israel and the Palestinian (National) Authority recognized the withdrawal must proceed peacefully and without violence," she said.

"Both Israel and the Palestinian (National) Authority will take the necessary actions and will coordinate such actions where appropriate to ensure a peaceful disengagement and economic viability and hope for the Palestinian people," she added.

As for the Palestinian demands to reopen Gaza's airport and set up a safe passage for free movement of people and goods between Gaza and the West Bank, Rice said Israel would evaluate the way it manages the airport and crossings in consistency with its security concerns.

Earlier on Saturday, Rice said after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah that cooperation between the two sides over the Gaza pullout was " absolutely critical."

"Both parties will have to do their part if this is indeed to be a peaceful and orderly withdrawal from Gaza," she said, adding that Palestinians "play a critical role in providing a secure environment in which the Gaza disengagement can take place."

In addition, Rice reassured the Palestinian leadership that the Israeli evacuation would be a step toward a final settlement of the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"The withdrawal from Gaza is not the end, but it is a step toward a solution and toward the establishment of a viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel," she said.

The top US diplomat also expressed optimism that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank this summer would provide an important boost in relations with the Palestinians.

"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," said Rice shortly before going into talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem on Sunday.

"I look forward to... making the disengagement plan as a historic step which can lead to the eventual resolution and the eventual ability to get to a two-state solution," she added.

STEADFAST COMMITMENTS

Sharon, on his part, promised Rice on Sunday that Israel would strengthen coordination with the Palestinians over the pullout, but reasserted that the revival of the peace process would be impossible unless the Palestinian National Authority dismantled militant groups.

"I believe that a smooth and successful implementation of the disengagement plan in coordination with the Palestinians will help energize the political process under the roadmap," Sharon said.

But "all this is dependent on the Palestinians stopping the terror, violence and incitement, dismantling and disarming terror groups and implementing the needed reforms," he quickly added.

Abbas also pledged commitment to coordination with Israel to " guarantee a clean and complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian leader urged Rice to exert pressure on Israel to stop settlement activities and the construction of the separation wall in the West Bank as well as removing all roadblocks and checkpoints.

"The continuation of the Israeli violations of the truce and delaying of the release of Palestinian prisoners will not only affect the truce, but also have an impact on the entire peace process," said Abbas.

Wrapping up her trip to the Palestinian territories and Israel, Rice has headed on to Jordan and will also visit Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Source: Xinhua