US hails Israeli cabinet approval of disengagement plan

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2004

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House welcomed the Israeli cabinet's decision to back Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's revised plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, again calling the scheme a "courageous and historic step."

"We welcome the government of Israel's decision to approve Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan," it said in a statement.

"As we have said, we view the prime minister's plan to withdraw all settlements in Gaza and certain settlements in the West Bank as a courageous and historic step."

"We urge that practical preparatory work to implement the plan now proceed as rapidly as possible in Israel."

Sharon said Sunday that Israel intends to have withdrawn from the Gaza Strip by the end of 2005, after his cabinet approved a revised...