Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the UN General Assembly today it was now up to the Palestinians to prove they want peace following Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip.
In his first speech to the world body - one most Israelis view as anti-Israeli - Mr Sharon also said Israel had no more responsibility for Gaza following the pullout it completed on Monday after 38 years of occupation.
"The Palestinians will always be our neighbours. We respect them and don't aspire to rule over them. They also deserve freedom and a sovereign national entity in their own country," Mr Sharon said, speaking in Hebrew.
But he added: "Now it is the Palestinians' turn to prove their desire for peace." The withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza is part of Mr Sharon's plan to disengage from conflict with the Palestinians.
Mr Sharon said the pullout opened a "window of opportunity" for moving along a US-backed peace "road map" that envisages creation of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
But he said the Palestinian Authority faced its "greatest test" and must first, under the road map, "put an end to terror and its infrastructure, eliminate the anarchy of armed gangs and cease incitement" against Israel and the Jews.
Palestinian leaders said in response to the speech that he only solution was a complete Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories including the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem.