    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [June 10, 2004]
    [Pages 1019-1020]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    G-8 Statement: Gaza Withdrawal and the Road Ahead to Middle East Peace
    June 10, 2004

        The G-8 welcomes the prospect of Israeli withdrawal from all Gaza
    settlements and from parts of the West Bank, following the Israeli
    Cabinet decision to endorse Prime Minister Sharon's initiative. The G-8 looks forward to the implementation
    of

    [[Page 1020]]

    this decision in 2005, recalling the Quartet statement of 4 May that it
    ``welcomes and encourages such a step, which should provide a rare
    moment of opportunity in the search for peace in the Middle East.'' The
    G-8 hopes that this disengagement initiative will stimulate progress
    towards peace in the region, the realization of Palestinian national
    aspirations and the achievement of our common objective of two states,
    Israel and a viable, democratic, sovereign and contiguous Palestine,
    living side by side in peace and security.
        The G-8 views the Quartet Roadmap as the way forward towards a
    comprehensive settlement and calls on all parties to abide by their
    obligations under the Roadmap. The G-8 countries will join with others
    in the international community, led by the Quartet, to restore momentum
    on the Roadmap, to enhance humanitarian and economic conditions among
    the Palestinian people and to build democratic, transparent and
    accountable Palestinian institutions. We will also work to help ensure
    security and stability in Gaza and the areas of the West Bank from which
    Israel withdraws. We call on both sides to end all acts of violence.
        In furtherance of these goals, the G-8 calls upon the Quartet to
    meet in the region before the end of this month, engage with Israeli and
    Palestinian representatives and set out its plans for taking forward in
    practical terms its declaration of May 4.
        We support and commend all efforts, including those by Egypt, to
    resolve critical security issues relating to Gaza, and urge that this
    important work continue. We urge and support the rebuilding and
    refocusing of Palestinian security services in accordance with the
    Roadmap, so that they enforce the rule of law, mount effective
    operations against all forms of terrorism, and report to an empowered
    Interior Minister and Prime Minister.
        We believe the important work of the Local Aid Coordinating
    Committee to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West
    Bank must continue. We suggest that preparations should begin now for a
    meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee with the aim of revitalizing the
    Palestinian economy. We welcome and encourage international support for
    the World Bank-established Trust Fund as an accountable and transparent
    mechanism for receipt of international assistance. We also welcome plans
    of the Palestinian Authority to hold municipal elections beginning at
    the end of the summer, and believe that the Task Force on Palestinian
    Reform should meet soon to assist in preparations to assure that these
    and subsequent elections will be fair and transparent, and serve as the
    building block of democratic reform.
        The G-8 welcomes the international conference on UNRWA in Geneva and
    supports close coordination between all groups involved in international
    assistance.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.