Dov Weissglass
Encyclopedia
Dov Weissglass is an Israeli lawyer and business man who has been closely linked with the Middle East peace process, particularly under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
. As Sharon's office manager/bureau chief, he was the public face for Sharon during the 2004 withdrawal negotiations and the diplomatic delegate for negotiating with U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice
and U.S. Secretary of State
Colin Powell
. Weissglass' business firm, Weissglass-Almagor, invests heavily in both Israeli and Palestinian industry.
He has attracted criticism from the Israeli Left for many of his statements. In 2004 he remarked "The disengagement [strategy with Palestinian government] is actually formaldehyde
. It supplies the amount of formaldehyde that's necessary so that there will not be a political process with the Palestinians."
In reference to the Gaza blockade he is alleged by some political sources to have remarked in a private meeting, "The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger." Weisglass has denied this report, although official documents obtained by Israeli NGO Gisha show that this has actually been implemented as policy.
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
. As Sharon's office manager/bureau chief, he was the public face for Sharon during the 2004 withdrawal negotiations and the diplomatic delegate for negotiating with U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
and U.S. Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
. Weissglass' business firm, Weissglass-Almagor, invests heavily in both Israeli and Palestinian industry.
He has attracted criticism from the Israeli Left for many of his statements. In 2004 he remarked "The disengagement [strategy with Palestinian government] is actually formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...
. It supplies the amount of formaldehyde that's necessary so that there will not be a political process with the Palestinians."
In reference to the Gaza blockade he is alleged by some political sources to have remarked in a private meeting, "The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger." Weisglass has denied this report, although official documents obtained by Israeli NGO Gisha show that this has actually been implemented as policy.