'Fencing in Palestinians is only option'

Joseph Sendik and Ehud Barak have little in common. Mr Sendik, a paratroop officer in the reserves has refused to serve in Israel's army and been branded a traitor. The latter, a former prime minister, is Israel's most decorated soldier who never shirked an opportunity to risk his life and kill for his country.

Yet, as Israel begins to withdraw from some West Bank towns it invaded 12 days ago, they agree that the time has come for "unilateral separation" from the Palestinians.

Facing waves of suicide bombers who have claimed 110 Israeli civilian lives in the last month, the biggest death toll since 1948 when Israel was forged in the heat of the first war between Jews and Arabs, most Israelis agree.

For more than a year opinion polls have shown that between 50 and 70 per cent of Israel's Jews believe that "separation" is the only answer. But there are two paths to "separation" voiced by Mr Sendik, the refusenik, and Mr Barak, the general. And as Colin Powell arrives in Israel, an already intense debate over where these paths will lead, will be the defining issue facing Israelis and Palestinians over the next few months.

One path, supported by a minority of Israelis, like Mr Sendik, could lead to peace but has terrible risks. The other means fencing three million Palestinians into about five different blocks of land, giving them some autonomy - but at least keeping suicide bombers from attacking Israel. It has the support of hundreds of former generals, Mr Barak included, and seems to make sense to Israel's Centre and Right, the dominant forces in politics today. Any pretence that Israel and the Palestinians can reach a peaceful settlement has been abandoned by ordinary people on both sides - even if the politicians have been slow to grasp this.

Mr Powell, who is expected in Israel on Thursday, faces few options. Separation might be the best solution to a conflict threatening regional war, soaring oil prices, burgeoning anti-Semitism and endless fresh gripes for Islamic terrorists.

Mr Sendik, 38, served for four years in the paratroops during Israel's invasion of Lebanon 20 years ago. Today, like many on Israel's Left, he no longer believes that it is morally acceptable nor militarily and politically possible, to maintain Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. " Occupation is morally wrong. But more importantly, it is bad for Israel. If we don't change our policy then the bombings we have seen will be nothing compared to what the Palestinians will do to us in the future.

"In 1948 Israel was weak, but had a strong ideology and built a great country. Now the Palestinians are weak, but they have a strong ideology and you can't kill that with weapons. War is just gasoline on the flames."

Mr Barak partly agrees with Mr Sendik. Israel can no longer rule over the Palestinians or it faces a future of apartheid and demographic annihilation as the Arab population grows. But "separation" will be on Israel's terms only. He wrote in an Israeli newspaper on Sunday: "Unilateral separation from the Palestinians and putting up a fence", is Israel's only option.

But Mr Sendik warned: "Just remember, caged animals are very, very dangerous".