Rice names Wolfensohn special envoy for Gaza disengagement

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the appointment of outgoing World Bank President James Wolfensohn to serve as special envoy on behalf of the Middle East Quartet to help coordinate Israel’s disengagement from Gaza and several West Bank settlements.

“As Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement, Mr. Wolfensohn will focus his efforts on two areas: first, Palestinian-Israeli coordination concerning the non-military aspects of the withdrawal, including the disposition of the assets that will be left behind; and second, the revival of the Palestinian economy in the wake of the withdrawal,” Rice said upon announcing Wolfensohn’s appointment April 14. Wolfensohn will serve as envoy on behalf of all the members of the Quartet, which includes the European Union, the Russian Federation, the United Nations and the United States.