Archive material from

Text of JfJfP/Just Peace UK leaflet distributed in London on 14th July 2003

PEACE NEEDS BRIDGES NOT WALLS!

Ariel Sharon is in London to speak to Tony Blair and to the Jewish Community. Londoners must tell him, loud and clear, to observe international law, to abide by UN resolutions and to withdraw all Israel’s soldiers and settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories. Nothing less will bring a just and lasting peace.

The Quartet – the US, Russia, the EU and the UN – have launched the Road Map. The Arab League and the Palestinian Authority have clearly and openly stated that they recognise the rights and security concerns of Israelis. But even under this strong pressure Israel’s response is minimal.

Does Sharon really want peace?

• Sharon is building an 8 metre high, 100 metre wide, 650 kilometre long ‘Berlin’ wall – not along the green line, Israel’s 1967 frontier, but cutting deep into the West Bank, appropriating fertile land, olive groves and water resources. Sharon says it is non negotiable. (The map overleaf shows a second Eastern wall is planned).
• Sharon says he will dismantle settlements – but has only evacuated uninhabited caravans on outposts. He has not stopped their replacement. Most settlements are in the dark areas on the map. They will stay - protected by the walls - on Israeli occupied land.
• Sharon withdraws troops - but only so far. Tanks still edge the towns, roadblocks are still in place, checkpoints still operate, detainees have not been released. There is no genuine freedom of movement in Palestine.
• Sharon says he will agree to a Palestinian State; but insists that Israel will control all entry and exits. The wall will leave Palestine only 60% of the West Bank, not a viable, contiguous state.

Judging purely by Sharon’s own actions, he has no intention of following the roadmap, but only wants to sabotage it

Yet Bush calls Sharon ‘a man of peace’. Tell George Bush, tell Tony Blair, tell Ariel Sharon that we will only believe this when the Occupation ends, when every Israeli soldier has left, when the wall is dismantled, when all Israeli settlers are removed and when Palestinians are granted their rights as a people.

If Israel really wants peace and security it needs to end the occupation now!

Published by Jews for Justice for Palestinians and Just Peace UK P.O.Box 37402, London N3 2XG

e-mail: jfjusticefp@yahoo.co.uk and justpeaceuk@yahoo.com

B’tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, concludes a study it published in April 2003 by expressing its disquiet in the following measured terms:

“It is reasonable to assume that, as in the case of the settlements, the separation barrier will become a permanent fact to support Israel's future claim to annex territories.”