Guardian Unlimited; Israel 'is sealing off Jerusalem Arabs'

[Englander]

Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Tuesday April 5, 2005
The Guardian

Ariel Sharon told the Israeli parliament yesterday that he would press ahead with the construction of thousands of homes to link one of the largest Jewish settlements with Jerusalem, despite US concern that it would jeopardise the possibility of a viable Palestinian state.

>snip

The Palestinians estimate that by the time Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza strip in October the wall and barrier through Jerusalem will separate about 250,000 Arabs living in the city from the rest of the occupied territories, with severe social and economic consequences.

"Things are snowballing in East Jerusalem," said Hind Khoury, the Palestinian cabinet minister with responsibility for Jerusalem. "The disengagement plan has been given a very high profile as the way forward and the world has embraced that. But if you look at what else is going on, there is extreme intensification of settlement expansion, the continuation of the construction of the wall, the areas that Israel is annexing; it is creating realities and influencing final status talks."

The construction of thousands of homes in the three-mile corridor to Maale Adumim would not only extend Jerusalem deep into the West Bank but would sever the main link between Palestinian towns to the south, such as Bethlehem, and those to the north, including Ramallah.

Israel already effectively views Maale Adumim as part of Jerusalem by including it within the "greater Jerusalem" boundary that extends half way across the West Bank toward Jericho. Last month, the government announced that the "security barrier" would enclose Maale Adumim, home to about 30,000 people, and another large settlement block, Gush Etzion, near Bethlehem, on the Jerusalem side.

More at;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1452158,00.html

[number6]

1. color me skeptical,. as far I/P peace

:(