Two weeks ago, President Arafat and Prime Minister Netanyahu shook hands and
put their signatures at the bottom of the Wye Memorandum. The signing has
been widely reported as a commitment by both leaders to make concrete steps to
continue the peace process. But what is actually in the Memorandum? And what
does it mean to Palestinian
families who face home demolitions?

The Memorandum confirms that, "both sides recognize that it is in their vital
interests to combat terrorism and fight violence. The Oxford American
Dictionary defines terrorism as the, "use of violence or intimidation for
political purposes." Israel's systematic and continuing program of house
demolitions and land confiscation falls squarely into that definition. Yet
the text of the Wye Memorandum fails to speak one word against house
demolitions.

A family with a demolition order is, by definition, not secure. A family
whose home has been demolished is even less so. I have seen young men's hair
turn grey. I have seen wives and children left alone in Red Cross tents when
their husbands and fathers are arrested for resisting the demolitions. And I
have seen optimistic, hopeful people become bitter and depressed. These are
the results of state terrorism disguised as "legal" home demolitions.

Israelis deserve to feel secure. But this is no less true for
Palestinians. Peace can not flourish unless people on both sides of this
conflict have enough security to feel safe in their homes. Security is
useless and impotent unless it is the result of justice.

Full justice will not exist here until Israel stops demolishing the homes of
Palestinian families. The authors of the Wye Memorandum seem to have forgotten
this.