RAMALLAH, 24 July 2005 — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday reported progress in efforts to coordinate the Israeli pullout from Gaza, as she urged Israel not to seal off the territory after its departure.
Just weeks before the historic pullout of Israeli troops and settlers is to begin on Aug. 17, Rice flew to the region to ensure that next month’s pullout is carried out successfully and not marred by militant violence.
The two sides were looking to balance three conditions: Freedom of movement inside the Gaza Strip, between Gaza and the outside world, and security, she told a news conference with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
“I think they are making some progress, I think we can close many of these issues very expeditiously with enough will, perhaps a change in mood here or perhaps a change in mood there,” she said.
Rice however bristled when pressed on concrete details of the negotiations between the two sides.
“These are negotiations and discussions. I am not going to have them in the press.” Alluding to Palestinian fears that the pullout could turn Gaza into a giant prison, she cautioned Israel not to seal off the narrow slither of territory in a bid to facilitate desperately needed economic recovery.
“When the Israelis withdraw from Gaza, it cannot be sealed off or isolated, with the Palestinian people closed in after the withdrawal,” Rice added.
The Palestinians have insisted that there are provisions for a “safe passage” into the West Bank as well for a new seaport and the reopening of Gaza airport.
Amid further Palestinian complaints that the pullout was heading for disaster without answers to numerous questions on key issues, Rice reiterated calls for greater coordination and a “further sharing of information”.
“We will continue to make sure that we’re moving forward in a way that both sides understand what is coming. There needs to be coordination and there needs to be sense of predictability,” she added.
The Palestinian Authority president, whose late predecessor Yasser Arafat was boycotted by the Bush administration, said a successful pullout could lay the foundations of the creation of a democratic Palestinian state also incorporating the West Bank.
“The withdrawal is an opportunity for us to develop our foundations, to establish our state, beginning in Gaza,” he said.
“We are confident that we can develop the Gaza Strip and all Palestinian land, economically, politically and administratively.” The Palestinian leader also emphasized the need for coordination with the Israelis.
“There must be coordination with Israel about the disengagement from Gaza so that this move can be part of the roadmap and can allow for the immediate resumption of the peace process,” he said in reference to a peace plan which targets the creation of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
On her last visit to the region five weeks ago, Rice announced an agreement had been reached between the Israelis and Palestinians for settler homes to be razed after the Gaza pullout. However since then, there have been few concrete agreements between the two sides despite a lengthy round of talks.
On Friday, Rice discussed the looming pullout with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon before a series of talks with the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank yesterday. In the interim, she made a surprise visit to Lebanon.
Israeli officials called on Rice at their meetings to pressure Abbas to rein in hardliners who are trying to portray the pullout as an act of surrender.
