GAZA CITY, Oct 27 (AFP) - The Palestinian Authority is ready to assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli pullout, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's chief advisor said Wednesday.
Speaking after an historic decision by the Israeli parliament to approve a pullout of Gaza and four small settlements in the northern West Bank, Nabil Abu Rudeina also insisted that the withdrawal should form part of the troubled roadmap peace plan.
"The PA is ready to assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip if Israel pulls out," Abu Rudeina told AFP.
"We are in favour of any withdrawal from occupied land, even one centimeter. But the vote at the Knesset is not important. What matters is what happens on the ground."
The Israeli parliament voted late Tuesday in favour of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's so-called disenagement plan.
The Palestinian government has had mixed views about the project, welcoming the withdrawal from Gaza but deploring the idea that the pullout will take place without their involvement.
Palestinian officials have been urging that the pullout takes place within the framework of a roadmap peace plan which was endorsed by both sides a year ago and aims to create a Palestinian state next year.
However negotiations have been frozen for more than a year with Sharon arguing that he has to implement unilateral measures as he sees no Palestinian partner in the peace process.
10/27/2004 13:27 GMT - AFP