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October 06, 2004
Aim is to Rule out Palestinian State
The Washington Post reports: Ariel Sharon's chief of staff has said the aim of the Israeli prime minister's plan to withdraw from Gaza is to rule out a Palestinian state indefinitely.
Dov Weisglass also effectively dismissed the American-backed "road map" to Middle East peace and claimed Mr Sharon's plan policy had Washington's support.
Mr Weisglass told the Ha'aretz newspaper: "The significance of our disengagement plan is the freezing of the peace process. It supplies the formaldehyde necessary so there is no political process with Palestinians.
"What I effectively agreed to with the Americans was that part of the settlements would not be dealt with at all, and the rest will not be dealt with until the Palestinians turn into Finns."
The blame is placed directly upon Palestinian terrorist suicide bombings and other violence.
Weisglass ruled out talks on critical issues such as Palestinian refugees, borders and the status of Jerusalem in the foreseeable future. "And all this with authority and permission, all with a presidential blessing."
Bush has said Palestinians cannot expect to win statehood unless they stamp out militant attacks on Israel.
Cross posted at IsraPundit
Posted by LindaSoG at October 6, 2004 01:57 PM