WASHINGTON, April 14 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Wednesday hailed a plan for a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as a bold step towards Mideast peace.
The proposal was formally presented to Bush at the White House by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who hopes it will breathe new life into Bush's stalled peace plan, which envisages two separate states -- one Israeli and one Palestinian -- next year.
"These are historic and courageous actions," Bush said. "If all parties choose to embrace this moment, they can open the door to progress and put an end to one of the world's longest-running conflicts."
Under Sharon's proposal Israel would withdraw from all Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip and from four of the more than 120 in the West Bank. Many Palestinians oppose the proposal, which they suspect is a ruse to keep most of the West Bank. It also faces opposition from many Israelis.
Bush and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said earlier in the week any unilateral disengagement must be seen in the context of Bush's peace plan and not as a substitute track.
