Gaza pullback 'to freeze peace process'

The United States and Israel have always claimed that the Israeli evacuation of all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip would help the peace process.

But in an interview published in the newspaper Haaretz, Mr Sharon’s adviser, Dov Weisglass, a key architect of the disengagement plan, was blunt: "The significance of the disengagement plan is the freezing of the peace process," he said. "When you freeze that process, you prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and you prevent a discussion on the refugees, the borders and Jerusalem."

Mr Weisglass continued: "Effectively this whole package called the Palestinian state, with all that it entails, has been removed indefinitely from the agenda, all of this with a presidential blessing and the ratification of both houses of Congress.

"The disengagement supplies the amount of formaldehyde so that there will not be a political process with the Palestinians."

The remarks came as Israel continued a massive incursion in the Gaza Strip started on 28 September with the stated aim of stopping the firing of rockets into Israel.

Tanks fired several shells towards the Jabalya refugee camp yesterday. One hit a house, killing a father and his son.

At the Kfar Darom settlement, three Hamas fighters who staged an attack were shot dead by Israeli soldiers.

Alon Liel, former director-general of Israel’s foreign ministry, said Mr Weisglass’s remarks were "an insult to the international community, to the Americans and the Europeans. If this is the Sharon concept, Europe should pull its ambassadors back for consultations".

Later, Mr Sharon’s office said Israel remains committed to the road map to peace but Israel has no partner at present because the Palestinian side "continues to adhere to terrorism, violence and incitement".

It said the evacuation plan was created to strengthen Israel’s position "until a time when a Palestinian partner can be found that will fulfil all the requirements of the road map".