Jerusalem

Black and white film from 40 years ago shows the dusty faces of Israel's young soldiers astride tanks and APCs; they are ecstatic.

Egypt, Syria and Jordan had been routed, in six, short, biblical days, the young state saved, and Jerusalem reunited. The fighters could revel in their glory.

The Six-Day War that began on June 5, 1967, transformed Israelis from a people fearing for their very existence as they waited for the enemy to strike (as they thought), to triumphant victors in possession of the Sinai, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights.

And yet, 40 years later, few Israelis are celebrating. Some Right-wingers will do so, but the date will be used most vigorously by Israelis campaigning to bring the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to an end.

In the war's aftermath, according to former attorney-general Michael ben Yair: "We enthusiastically chose to become a colonial society, ignoring international treaties, expropriating lands, transferring settlers from Israel to the occupied territories, engaging in theft and finding justification for all these activities.

" Israel developed "two judicial systems: one - progressive, liberal - in Israel; and the other - cruel, injurious - in the occupied territories.

In effect, we established an apartheid regime in the occupied territories immediately following their capture."

Supporters of Israel long denied that Israel ''occupied'' Palestinian land.

The ground was cut from under their feet in 2003, when PM Ariel Sharon stated: "You might not like the word, but what is happening is 'occupation', which is bad for Israel, and bad for the Palestinians, and bad for the Israeli economy.

Controlling 3.5 million Palestinians cannot go on for ever.''

David Kimche, former director-general of the foreign ministry, said: "Once we were in the Old City, and at the Western Wall, all the pent-up nationalist religious feelings were let loose and the messianic movement flooded in.

" During the war Dr Kimche was assigned to assess holding on to the West Bank. He concluded that this would be detrimental to Israel, and that the better option was Palestinian independence.

His recommendations to PM Levi Eshkol were rejected.

Instead, Israel established an occupation that, according to historian Benny Morris was ''founded on brute force, repression and fear, collaboration and treachery, beatings and torture chambers, and daily intimidation, humiliation and manipulation.''

The only option for the Palestinians, in his view, ''was armed struggle''. And the struggle has continued, armed and civil, ever since, culminating in the first intifada of 1987-1991, and the second, beginning in 2000.

Since 2000, more than 1,000 Israelis and 4,500 Palestinians have been killed.

Occupation has brought a demographic crisis (Palestinians of the occupied territories and in Israel will soon outnumber Jewish Israelis), and Palestinians to a shameful state of despair and imprisonment.

According to Nahum Barnea, Israel's foremost columnist, to most Israelis the anniversary means: "Jerusalem, we have a problem.

The problem is occupation. It's not just moral. What really bothers people is the price we pay. Occupation is a burden.'

"Israel should be celebrating," says Barnea, "but we don't believe this victory served us right. Even Jerusalem as a sacred, beloved city - people realise the city was never united."

Most Israelis, apart from settlers, peace activists and a few journalists, never dare venture to Arab East Jerusalem.

The closure system (the 550 checkpoints, the no-go areas and the Separation Barrier etc) has killed any chance of a normal life in the West Bank, let alone the encaged Gaza Strip - the Israeli organisation Gisha reports that Israel's control over Gaza has actually tightened since the withdrawal in 2005.

Gaza is degenerating into anarchy worthy of Somalia, breeding increasing radicalism. "And Gaza is being reproduced all over the West Bank," said Israeli journalist Amira Hass. "This can only mean disaster for Israel, too."

Qassam rockets fly out of Gaza, terrorising Israelis who live nearby. Israelis know the military option is limited, have no trust in Palestinians generally, let alone Hamas, and see little likelihood of peace.

Meanwhile, regional instability and the Iranian threat loom.

The triumphant soldiers of 40 years ago could never have foreseen what their spectacular victory would spawn.

The occupation has meant not only the corruption of the occupiers that prolonged military occupation inevitably brings.

As a growing number of Israelis recognise, this occupation now threatens Israel's very future. Which is why true friends of Israel need to help it out of this mess.

  Emma Williams is author of 'It's Easier To Reach Heaven Than The End Of The Street: A Jerusalem Memoir'