[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 24 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Pages 1044-1045]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 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.

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