31.   Palestinians have denounced the closures as collective punishment.

32.   Palestinians, however, decry the pervasive security steps as collective punishment that has crippled their economy, and complain that Israeli security forces treat all Palestinians as suspects.

33.   Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has repeatedly denounced the prolonged closure as collective punishment, and international human rights organizations have urged Israel to reconsider.

34.   Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said that the closure constituted collective punishment aimed at forcing concessions from the Palestinians at the negotiating table.

35.   Peres called for an uncompromising war against terror but warned against collective punishment of ordinary Palestinians.

36.   Palestinians charge that the restrictions are collective punishment and an attempt to force political surrender through economic pressure.

37.   Palestinians charge that the restrictions are collective punishment and pressure.

38.   Palestinians have complained bitterly, calling it collective punishment that prevents them from traveling in and out of their communities.

39.   Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said Israel was imposing collective punishment on the Palestinians.

40.   According to Shuyaki, peace is an idea of the past and he regards the closure as unwarranted collective punishment of the Palestinian people.