US President George W. Bush on Tuesday praised Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank and said the Palestinians must now form an effective government.
Bush called the Israeli disengagement plan "a courageous decision" that has "changed the dynamics on the ground and has provided hope for the Palestinian people" and improved the prospects for the so-called roadmap to peace.
"We want to get back to the roadmap. I understand that in order for this process to go forward, there must be confidence," on the Palestinian side, that their government will function, and, on the Israeli side, that they will be secure when a future Palestinian state emerges, the president told reporters. Calling this a "very hopeful period," Bush said the world must "stay focused on Gaza and helping the Gaza economy get going, helping rebuild the settlements for the people of Gaza.
"My vision and my hope is that one day we'll see two states - two democratic states - living side by side in peace," he said.
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