For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 27, 2003
Statement by the Press Secretary
The United States applauds the agreement in principle between Israel
and the Palestinian Authority to transfer security responsibilities in
Gaza. The agreement represents a first significant joint step toward
implementation of commitments made by each party at the Aqaba summit.
While it is important that the parties have reached this agreement, it
is now crucial that each side take steps not only to meet their new
commitments but also to build on implementation of this agreement to
achieve the goal of two states living side by side in peace and
security as outlined by President Bush in his June 24, 2002 Rose Garden
speech.
###
|