The Labour Party recently threatened to walk out of parliament if Sharon's annual $150 million budget to support the building of new settlements continues. This is a postive step, but a small one. Possession is after all nine tenths of the law, and every passing day tightens the screw on the long term inslovability of this conflict. I have been told by Israelis that many settlers are unh! appy to be living in the West bank, but they are being ignored by the government which is dedicated to the expansion of the land of 'Israel'. The international community spearheaded by the US has given Israel a crate blanche to deal with the terrorist threat in whatever way it 'needs' to. These military outposts are presented as part of Israel's anti-terror strategy, despite being one of the chief provocations of Palestinian terrorism.

Back to the man in your garden: why has he come to live there? Settlers relocate in Palestine for two general reasons: economic and Zionist. The economic settlers comprise the majority of colonists, drawn to the occupied territories by promises of beautiful, spacious homes, health and education benefits. Many have come from former Soviet countries and Israel is currently recruiting in Latin America, taking advantage of the regional economic crises - fast-tracking indigenous Americans through the conversion to Judaism and shipping them over to a bountiful life in the West Bank.