GAZA, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip does not mean the end of occupation, although it is a step toward liberation.
Speaking Monday as the Israeli army completed its pullout from the strip, Abbas said, "The Israeli troops have evacuated all settlements and are exiting from Gaza's borders, but we say it is an exit and not a withdrawal since issues such as control over the airport, port and crossings are still pending and need to be discussed with them."
He said the pullout had been carried out smoothly and calmly "thanks to the efforts of the Palestinian national security forces."
"It is a big day of joy and happiness for the Palestinian people, who have been suffering for a long time from occupation, oppression and killings, but this happiness won't be complete until the Israeli forces quit the West Bank and East Jerusalem to enable us to build our independent Palestinian state," Abbas said.
He stressed that the next step was one of "construction and rebuilding the national economy and public institutions, though we still have difficult political issues to deal with in the West Bank."
