Israel pull-out 'aimed at stalling peace'
The adviser, Dov Weisglass, also said Israel is avoiding negotiations with the Palestinians because it does not want to be forced into concessions on issues such as the future of Jerusalem and the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees.
The unusually frank comments, published in the Haaretz newspaper, contradicted the Israeli government's assurances that it remains committed to the US-backed "road map" and its vision of Palestinian statehood, and that Israelis are ready to resume peace negotiations once there is a change in Palestinian leadership.
Mr Weisglass said Mr Sharon's plan of "unilateral disengagement" from the Palestinians, to be carried out next year, is meant to prevent a resumption of negotiations. "It (the plan) supplies the amount of formaldehyde that is necessary so there will not be a political process with the Palestinians," he told Haaretz.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said "it's very obvious (Sharon's) plan was designed to undermine the road map."
The adviser spoke as Israel waged a major military campaign in the northern Gaza Strip. The offensive was launched a week ago, in response to Palestinian rocket fire that killed two Israeli children.
Since then, 75 Palestinians have been killed. The military said its missiles have killed dozens of members of rocket squads and gunmen, but Palestinian hospital officials said 30 of the dead were civilians, including women and children.
Early yesterday, tanks fired several shells toward the Jebaliya refugee camp, scene of the heaviest fighting. The shell hit a house, killing a father and son, ages 55 and 25, and wounding eight members of the family, a Palestinian hospital official said. The army said troops fired after an anti-tank shell was launched from the house. Also, a 15-year-old boy died, after being shot in the head by troops as he stood on the balcony of his home outside Jebaliya, doctors said.
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