Quds city, June 19, SPA -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday that a successful and orderly pullout from the Gaza Strip would energize the peace process with the Palestinians and revive the long-stalled "road map" peace plan. Sharon spoke before meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was in the region on a two-day visit intended to pressure the Israelis and the Palestinians to put aside their disagreements and cooperate on the withdrawal, which is to begin in less than two months. "I believe that a smooth and successful implementation of the plan in coordination with the Palestinians, will help energize the political process under the road map," Sharon was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. The road map, which calls for a Palestinian state by the end of 2005, stalled soon after its adoption in 2003 with both Israel and the Palestinians failing to meet their initial obligations. The Palestinians have sought to incorporate the Gaza pullout into the road map. Israel, which initially envisioned the pullout as a unilateral move, has resisted committing to any peace efforts until after it has left Gaza.
