Israeli cabinet extends 'security fence'
Critics say annexation will wreck hopes of a Palestinian state

Ariel Sharon's cabinet has agreed to extend Israel's controversial "security fence" to encircle Jewish settlements deep in the West Bank, moving closer to formally annexing hundreds of square miles of Palestinian territory.

But under pressure from Washington, the government said it would leave gaps in the fence where it would link the settlements of Ariel and its satellites to the main barrier that Mr Sharon envisages will eventually encircle the bulk of the Palestinian population.

Palestinians condemned the decision. They claimed that the barrier, which is mostly fence but includes sections of wall nine metres high, would wreck the possibility of creating a viable Palestinian state.

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator, said: "This is an attempt to sabotage the peace process, because it kills the United States president's vision of a two state solution. This is not a security fence, this is the biggest land grab by Israel. This does not separate Israelis from Palestinians; it separates Palestinians from Palestinians."
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My Baby Boy's American Freedoms Vanish In Occupied Palestine

My son was born in San Francisco. He is an American. He was also born to a Palestinian father. He is also Palestinian. This summer, at 6 weeks old, he became an international traveler, with a brand new American passport, when we traveled to Palestine to introduce him to his father's family. Two days before we were supposed to return to America, we were told by the Israeli military that my infant son was not allowed to travel with me on his American passport. As a Palestinian citizen, he was subject to the regulations of the Israeli military occupation and needed a Palestinian passport and permission from the Israeli army to leave the country.

In one fell swoop, my son gained another passport and lost his freedom. Once he left Palestine, he could roam the globe, protected by the most powerful government in the world. But within the boundaries of his father's country, he could not travel from one town to another without permission from an occupying army.

For the next 10 days, we felt as if we were imprisoned. By night, Israeli military jeeps patrolled the streets. By day, Israeli soldiers manned checkpoints outside the town, restricting entry and exit. Over the hill, the Israeli army was confiscating Palestinian farmers' fields – and ripping out ancient olive groves – to build a towering concrete wall to encircle Palestinian towns. We called the Palestinian officials every day, but they were helpless. The Israeli army controlled all domestic and international travel for Palestinians, but the military was no longer taking their calls. I could leave, but my son and my husband were not allowed to come with me.
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