It's hard to figure out what Arab and South American leaders (including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) were trying to accomplish by inserting unhelpful language about terrorism into the joint declaration that they issued from their recent summit in Brazil.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) expressed its concern about reports in the Israeli press that the Israeli government is moving forward with construction of a fence that will connect the West Bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim to Jerusalem, thereby unilaterally carrying out a de facto annexation of this territory. APN works to enhance Israel's security through peace and to support the Israeli Peace Now movement.

Surveys indicate that a majority of Israelis support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to evacuate settlements from Gaza and part of the West Bank, while a majority also expects even more settlements will be removed after the current round is over.