At the same meeting in which it decided to implement the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, the Israeli government took an even more important decision: to complete the wall in the West Bank.

As of now, preparations are moving rapidly ahead for the building of three new towns between the Green Line and the wall: "Gevaot" in the Etzion Bloc, "Zufim North" near Kalkilia and a contiguous built-up area connecting Jerusalem with Ma’aleh Adumim. More big housing projects are planned east of Har Homa and east of A-Ram.

This means violating the promise given to President Bush, violating international law, sabotaging Abu Mazen’s efforts to achieve a settlement and inviting a third intifada.

Gush Shalom, Israeli Peace Bloc [1].

Israelis fight annexations

A petition circulated by the residents of the Israeli village of Nirit [2].

We, the undersigned, support the struggle by the residents of Nirit for the immediate cessation of the construction of the new West Bank settlement, "Nof Hasharon".

"Nof Hasharon is really a part of the West-Bank settlement of Alfei-Menashe, a settlement beyond the Green Line. However, Nof Hasharon is to be attached, de facto, to our community, Nirit.

We reject this attempt to coerce a small community in Israel, established within the Green Line, into becoming a settlement. We find it inconceivable that while the Israeli government is promoting disengagement in other places, the authorities are approving a hurried procedure for the annexation of a new settlement, in occupied territory, to an existing, long established Israeli village.

We demand an immediate halt to the ill-considered construction of this new settlement.