Secretary Rice said last night, after meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, "The disengagement is only the first step on the way to a Palestinian state, that will be established according to the Road Map outline."
In her meeting last night with Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, Rice demanded that Israel make more concessions to Arabs living in the Land of Israel, including the release of additional terrorists from prison. She also said that Israel must hand over more Arab-populated cities to PA control.
Sunday morning, Rice met with Sharon, Ministers Peres and Shalom, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz and GSS Chief Yuval Diskin.
Sharon said later it was an "important meeting," and that the United States is still implementing a policy of friendship towards Israel, is still pro-Israel, and is investing major resources in the diplomatic process.
"The disengagement will be carried out at the scheduled time, in accordance with the government decisions and Knesset decision," Sharon said. He added that the continuation of the diplomatic process is contingent upon the Palestinian Authority's putting an absolute stop to incitement and terrorism, collecting weapons, and implementing governmental reforms." Ministers interviewed afterwards said that the PA must work harder to stop terrorism.
Minutes afterwards, it was reported that PA terrorists had attacked Israelis on the Philadelphi Route on the Egyptian-Israeli border in Gaza, wounding at least one soldier.
Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, said that the PA is committed to a "lull" in terrorism - but has demands on Israel: remove more checkpoints, release more terrorists, and stop building in Yesha.
In a press conference in Jerusalem at noon today, Secretary Rice was asked if she anticipates another Israeli withdrawal following the disengagement from Gaza. In continuation of her statement last night, which was a resounding "Yes," she said today, "One of the problems in the Middle East is that people tend to look very far in the future, instead of at the immediate things right in front of us. We have a Road Map that everyone says they're committed to. It's not like we don't know what are the necessary steps for the solution of two states for two peoples."
She expressed confidence yet again in Abu Mazen, praising the Palestinian Authority public for choosing someone with a platform that is clearly different than that of Hamas. Abu Mazen has taken no steps to disarm Hamas, however, and is willing to incorporate the terrorist organization into his government.
Secretary Rice said that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza is a "courageous and difficult step" for the "Palestinian nation." Asked whether she believes that the disengagement will be carried out on time, she said, "I can say that I have seen a commitment on the Israeli side to do what is necessary to see it happen. I have seen the people involved in it working hard to this end. That's all that people can do. We have to take a step backward and recognize that this is a courageous and difficult step for the Israeli government and Israeli people and also the Palestinian nation."
In her meeting last night with Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, Rice demanded that Israel make more concessions to Arabs living in the Land of Israel, including the release of additional terrorists from prison. She also said that Israel must hand over more Arab-populated cities to PA control.
Sunday morning, Rice met with Sharon, Ministers Peres and Shalom, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz and GSS Chief Yuval Diskin.
Sharon said later it was an "important meeting," and that the United States is still implementing a policy of friendship towards Israel, is still pro-Israel, and is investing major resources in the diplomatic process.
"The disengagement will be carried out at the scheduled time, in accordance with the government decisions and Knesset decision," Sharon said. He added that the continuation of the diplomatic process is contingent upon the Palestinian Authority's putting an absolute stop to incitement and terrorism, collecting weapons, and implementing governmental reforms." Ministers interviewed afterwards said that the PA must work harder to stop terrorism.
Minutes afterwards, it was reported that PA terrorists had attacked Israelis on the Philadelphi Route on the Egyptian-Israeli border in Gaza, wounding at least one soldier.
Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, said that the PA is committed to a "lull" in terrorism - but has demands on Israel: remove more checkpoints, release more terrorists, and stop building in Yesha.
In a press conference in Jerusalem at noon today, Secretary Rice was asked if she anticipates another Israeli withdrawal following the disengagement from Gaza. In continuation of her statement last night, which was a resounding "Yes," she said today, "One of the problems in the Middle East is that people tend to look very far in the future, instead of at the immediate things right in front of us. We have a Road Map that everyone says they're committed to. It's not like we don't know what are the necessary steps for the solution of two states for two peoples."
She expressed confidence yet again in Abu Mazen, praising the Palestinian Authority public for choosing someone with a platform that is clearly different than that of Hamas. Abu Mazen has taken no steps to disarm Hamas, however, and is willing to incorporate the terrorist organization into his government.
Secretary Rice said that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza is a "courageous and difficult step" for the "Palestinian nation." Asked whether she believes that the disengagement will be carried out on time, she said, "I can say that I have seen a commitment on the Israeli side to do what is necessary to see it happen. I have seen the people involved in it working hard to this end. That's all that people can do. We have to take a step backward and recognize that this is a courageous and difficult step for the Israeli government and Israeli people and also the Palestinian nation."