UN agency protests Israeli closure of Gaza Strip

The main United Nations agency providing assistance to Palestine refugees today protested that a complete closure of the Gaza Strip imposed by Israel on UN international staff had crippled its operations there.

“UNRWA understands Israel’s security concerns, but the fact is that nothing has ever been found on an UNRWA international staff member to warrant the searches and procedures,” Karen Koning AbuZayd, Deputy Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the largest aid agency in the Middle East, said.

“I find it incomprehensible that all my staff are locked in or locked out of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities must lift this closure to allow us to carry out our humanitarian mandate,” she added.
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Sharon says settlements 'not an issue on horizon'

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview published Tuesday that dismantling settlements on land Palestinians seek for a state under a U.S.-backed peace plan is "not an issue on the horizon".

Sharon also said that Jews will continue to live in Shilo and Beit El under Israeli sovereignty. "If you ask me whether in Beit El there will not be Jews," Sharon told the Jerusalem Post, "no, Jews will live there."

Asked if they will continue to live in Beit El and Shilo under Israeli sovereignty, he replied, "Do you see a possibility of Jews living under Arab sovereignty, I'm asking you, do you see that possibility?"

The "road map" plan calls for Israel to stop expanding settlements in the West Bank and Gaza as part of a series of confidence-building steps under which Palestinians would crack down on Palestinian militants targeting Israelis.
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Sharon doesn't seem to be too interested in the road map or peace. The destruction of the Palestinians continues.