U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday the Israelis have taken a "courageous and painful" step by evacuating the Gaza Strip, and declared that peace in the conflict with the Palestinians was "within reach". "Peace is within reach in the Holy Land," Bush told a war veterans convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The report was carried by the dpa. The United States has characterized Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's decision to remove settlements in the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank as an opportunity to move forward on the international "roadmap" peace plan. Bush called Sharon's move "bold" and credited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his opposition to militant violence against Israelis, and for his commitment to democratic principles. "President Abbas has rejected violence and taken steps toward democratic reforms," Bush said. The United States was working with the Palestinians to help them secure Gaza and was contributing 50 million dollars in aid to build Palestinian housing and infrastructure, Bush said. --SP 2252 Local Time 1952 GMT
