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GAZA, August 9, 2005, – President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Tuesday that the Israeli withdrawal should not be linked to any other issue.

In a speech before Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in Gaza, the President pointed out that US President George Bush had affirmed, in last June, on the linkage of the fate of the West Bank with that of Gaza Strip, and the Israeli withdrawal is going to be to September 28 positions as a transitional stage, refusing in the same time any changes of 1949 borders, not to say 1967 borders, unless there is an agreement between the two sides.

Abbas has welcomed the Israeli unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip”s colonies and four others from the north West Bank.

The President also said that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) will withdraw on August 15 and the withdrawal will last for 5 weeks, adding that Israel has approved the start of building Gaza Seaport, in addition to an agreement on the save passage between GS and WB.

As for regenerating the airport, the President revealed that the airport needs international and regional agreements with Egypt, Israel and Jordan and others.

Referring to the Legislative elections, the President said “I will issue, after I endorsed the law of legislative elections, a decree to set a date for the elections that to be in January”.

He concluded his speech by saying that there is only one Authority and one weapon and there should be an end to security chaos.

“When the land gets free of occupation forces, holding arms should be ended”, Abbas said.

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