UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Israeli opposition leader Shimon Peres said his country was determined to stick to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan for quitting the Gaza Strip despite the latest surge in violence.
He told reporters at UN headquarters in New York that Sharon had informed him earlier in the day of his intention to hold to the plan, even after days of deadly fighting between Israelis and Palestinians in the north of the strip.
"The Israeli plan for unilateral withdrawal remains intact, including the dates. Nothing will be changed," Peres said after meeting here with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Sharon has said he wants to dismantle all 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip by the end of next year.
Seven Palestinians were killed on Friday, a day after Sharon ordered the army to step up a massive raid to stop militant rocket attacks on southern Israel.
"Measures will be taken to increase the gap between the missiles and our settlements to make sure that they won't fall on houses and people," Peres said.
But he appeared to reject the US State Department's warning to use only "proportional force" in the Gaza operation, which has left at least 45 Palestinians dead in the past several days.
"When you exchange fire, it's not a matter of proportion. It's a matter of blood," Peres said.
"I don't think Israel is interested in initiating the bloodshed. On the contrary, we would like to stop as soon as it is possible, and completely," he said.