Rice links implementation of roadmap with successful Gaza pullout

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that implementing the long stalled road map peace plan was conditional on cooperation between the Palestinians and Israel to ensure the planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is successful and peaceful.

"We have to ensure that the Israeli disengagement is successful, peaceful and orderly," Rice told a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Farouq Qassrawi.

"The Palestinians should coordinate the disengagement so as to ensure it is successful...the terrorist organizations may try to disrupt this step," she said, asserting that a successful pullout from the Gaza Strip "should lead to the implementation of the road map", which envisages the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state.

She also urged Israel to stop expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank in line with its roadmap obligation.

"We in the United States don't expect to see any activities by Israel to prejudge (the outcome of final status talks). The United States has a very strong view on settlements," she said.

Rice, who is currently on a regional tour of the Mideast, arrived in Amman Sunday after talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on a planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and part of West Bank scheduled to begin in mid August.

She is meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah for talks said to focus on the forthcoming Israeli pullout from Gaza, the situation in Iraq and Jordan's progress on democratic reform.

Source: Xinhua