U.S. President George W. Bush praised both Israel and the Palestinian Authority Monday, calling both Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas "courageous."
Bush also said the US remained "fully committed to defending the security and well-being of our ally, Israel", and called for an end to all forms of terrorism in the region.
"We'll continue working for the day when the map of the Middle East shows two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security," the president said.
Bush also spoke about U.S. aid to the Palestinians, saying, "We will help the Palestinians prepare for self-government and to defeat the terrorists who attack Israel. We will provide USD 50 million in direct aid to the Palestinians to build housing and other infrastructure in Gaza."
State Department praise
State Department spokesman Sean McCormick also praised Israel, saying "anyone who saw the pictures on television of Israeli soldiers and settlers can understand the difficulty and the pain to Israel. This emphasizes the brave and courageous step taken by Prime Minister Sharon.
"Sharon and (Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas) have demonstrated leadership, and the spirit of cooperation has trickled down. This kind of cooperation builds trust between the sides," he said.