(New York Times) Joel Brinkley and Steven R. Weisman - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday offered sympathy for the Israeli settlers who are being removed from their homes in Gaza but also made it clear that she expected Israel and the Palestinians to take further steps in short order toward the creation of a Palestinian state. "Everyone empathizes with what the Israelis are facing," Rice said in an interview, but added, "It cannot be Gaza only." She insisted that Israel must take further steps, including loosening travel restrictions in the West Bank and withdrawing from more Palestinian cities. At the same, she added, the PA must take its own steps, moving quickly to disarm Palestinian factions intent on breaking the cease-fire.
2005-08-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive