Asked by Egypt’s state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper if the barrier would be the definitive border, Sharon replied: “No. The real border will be established once total calm is restored, which will allow us to move toward the (Middle East peace) roadmap.”

The internationally drafted roadmap foresees an independent Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel.

“It is not the wall that delimits the border,” Sharon said. The wall’s “only objective is to prevent terrorist operations inside Israel. We consider that the construction of the wall has stopped numerous terrorist operations.”

Asked whether the barrier would ever be pulled down, Sharon said: “We will study the matter.”

Sharon was also asked about two other sticking points in the peace process -- the future of Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes when the state of Israel was created in 1948, and the status of Jerusalem.

“Concerning the refugees, I have an agreement with President George Bush which foresees their being able to return to a Palestinian state. That is our position. I do not see how they will be able to return to Israel.”

On east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their promised state, Sharon said: “Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for the past three thousand and seven years after it was proclaimed as such by King David. It is the undivided capital of Israel.”