Israel declared today (Sunday) that its military occupation of the Gaza Strip is over after 38 years, but Palestinian officials refused to attend a formal ceremony marking the change.
The Israeli Cabinet voted unanimously to complete the withdrawal of all troops from Gaza on Monday and turn the territory over to Palestinian control.
Israel has had control of the Gaza territory, a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean coast, since the 1967 Middle East war.
President Bush visits the hurricane-stricken U.S. Gulf Coast today (Sunday), as the region continues to clean-up from Hurricane Katrina.
Today's visit will be Mr. Bush's third trip to the area since the devastating storm hit nearly two weeks ago.
President Bush has promised that areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina will come back "more vibrant than ever," while criticism of the local, state and federal disaster response continues.
Saturday, in his weekly radio address, President Bush said the government is assisting the victims and will help the people of the Gulf Coast "recover from adversity."
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