Rajoub: `“Gaza pullout is the first step, the US says`

Palestinian National Security Advisor, Jebril Rajoub, said that the United States has pledged to continue the implementation of the Road Map Plan, and added that he hopes the Arab countries will provide the P.A with the needed economic and political assistance.

The statements of Rajoub came during an interview with the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper.

“Our top priority is bringing the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, to the Gaza Strip”, Rajoub said.

 

“Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are the top priority of the Palestinian leadership, they suffer difficult conditions there,” Rajoub said. “We told the Lebanese government that they should not fear that the refugees will be residing in Lebanon, we are now expecting their return to their homeland”

“We want to lessen the suffering of 400.000 refugees in Lebanon” Rajoub added.

Rajoub also said that the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and his government, are trying to make this withdrawal as the first and last one.

“The International community and the United States are convinced that the Road Map Plan and the International Law should be implemented”, he said, “We received calming messages from the US during the American-Palestinian summit, and from the US secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit to the region”.

“She told us that the Palestinian geographic unity would exist between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip”.

Also, Rajoub added that Rice said that the settlements and the Separation Wall threaten the future peace plan, adding that the Palestinians need a “large-scaled” Arab support and safety net in order to guarantee the end of the Israeli occupation in accordance to the Road Map Plan. 

“We need assistance, and hope it will start today, we want to rebuild the Palestinian areas and provide the residents with the needed necessities to live in safety”, he said, “We believe the Arab countries are ready to assist us”.