We, the undersigned, citizens of Israel, completely reject Sharon government’s claim that the “Separation Fence” which is being built in the occupied territories is intended to defend our safety and security.

This fence is being built deep inside the Palestinian territory. It is cutting through towns and villages, it is destroying and confiscating fields and olive groves, it separates between farmers and their lands, between students and their schools, between patients and hospitals, and it is turning the life of a whole population into hell.

This fence is annexing settlements to Israel and imprisoning the Palestinians in enclaves with the aim of preventing any future possibility of creating a viable Palestinian state. While the government is wasting billions of dollars from the almost empty treasury in order to construct the fence, it is cruelly slashing welfare allocations, thus dealing a lethal blow to the poor and disadvantaged Israeli citizens.

This is not the way to prevent suicide bombings, but rather to further aggravate the misery, despair and hatred and to perpetuate the conflict for further generations.

Today we say to the Israeli government: this evil wall is not being built in our name!

The true and only way to stop the suicide bombings and bloodshed is through a mutual agreement that will end the occupation and oppression, which give birth to the endless bloodshed.

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We hereby forward the press release of  the Israeli Coalition Against the Wall - a wide coalition of peace groups of which Gush Shalom is part.

Press Release, Tel-Aviv, February 22. 2004

ISRAELI VOICE AGAINST THE WALL

"The terrible attack in Jerusalem today strengthens our opinion that the policy of Occupation and dispossession of the Palestinians, as expressed in the building of the Wall within the Palestinian Territories, does not bring us peace," say activist organizations holding protest activities against the Separation Wall.

Tomorrow, 23 February at 8.00 p.m., activist organizations participating in the "Israeli Voice against the Wall" will hold a protest demonstration opposite the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem.

Protesters will demand the immediate cessation of the building of the Wall and removal of those sections already built which cause indescribable suffering to the Palestinian population. For the demonstration, a symbolic wall will be built in front of the Prime Minister's residence, and during the demonstration protesters will call for its removal.

"This is what will eventually occur to the real Wall, it will fall as did the Berlin Wall", say demonstration organizers.

"On this day, in which the most respected international legal forum will commence discussions concerning the legality of the Wall which tears apart the Occupied Territories, we chose not to travel to the Hague, but to demonstrate here in Jerusalem against the man who brought us this sorrow: Ariel Sharon. As Israelis concerned for the future and security of Israel, we want to send a strong and clear message to the Prime Minister: "You are not building this evil Wall in our name, we completely and utterly reject the contention that it is meant to protect us".

The demonstration planned in Jerusalem is the height of a series of protest events which include other demonstrations and a mass petition of Israeli citizens against the Wall (full text attached).

The following organizations participate in this Coalition against the Wall: Alternative Information Center, Gush Shalom, Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, MachsomWatch, Rabbis for Human Rights, Ta'ayush (Arab-Jewish Partnership), Women's Coalition for a Just Peace and Yesh Gvul.