On wednesday, the village of Al Walaja suffered two more illegal house demolitions. It is Israeli state policy is to ethnically cleanse at least half of the village. This is due to the fact that the lands upon which the village was built have been illegally annexed to the Israeli Municiaplity of Jerusalem - in spite of the fact that these lands are rightfully owned by their Palestinian inhabitants - even though they belong to Palestinian territory. However, In this atmosphere of racism and segregation, the Arab population of the village is standing in the way of a new Jewish colony aimed at 'judaising' Palestinian territory.

Israeli peace activist looks on as his countrymen form a defensive line to stop the local Palestinian residents interupting the demoliton of one of their houses. I would like to re-emphasise that under international law, this house is in legally recognised Palestinian territory. Under Israeli law, it is in Jerusalem. The Palestinian residents will therefore have to pay up to 80,000 sheckels for the priviledge of having their house destroyed.

The otherswise peaceful farming village of Al Walaja is very well accustomed to regular incursions by the Israeli military. It is important to note that the residents of the village are not being accused of any crime. It is simply the location of their village which earns them this hostility. Without destroying Al Walaja, it would be impossible for Israel to connet its illegal colonies in the Gush Etzion settlement block with Jerusalem.