Israel rerouting barrier - sources

[Violet_Crumble]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is redrawing the route of its West Bank barrier closer to its borders to ensure Palestinians are not cut off from their lands in keeping with a High Court order, security sources say.

The World Court, the U.N.'s highest judicial arm, branded the barrier illegal and called for its removal in a non-binding opinion last week rejected by Israel and hailed by Palestinians.

Two senior U.S. security envoys were to see Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shortly about the repercussions of the World Court decision, unauthorised Jewish settlement outposts in the West Bank, and his plan to withdraw settlers from occupied Gaza.

An Israeli security source said on Tuesday redrafted Defence Ministry guidelines for the barrier -- a 100-metre (330-foot)-wide swathe of razor-fringed fencing and concrete walls -- would have it run "as close as possible" to the Israeli-West Bank boundary.

The barrier henceforth should not isolate nearby Palestinian farmers from olive and citrus groves or maroon villages in enclaves without free access to essential services like schools and hospitals, markets and West Bank cities, the source said.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=546417§ion=news

[CookieD]

1. Good news

It probably won't make people on either fringe happy but it's the right thing to do. The fence must be built and it still may have to cross into the West Bank, but hopefully this will be minimally intrusive and the Paelstinians can be compensated.

[ex_jew]

2. Why does it "have to cross" into the West Bank ?

Is this a law of nature ? How about if any Israeli who doesn't feel like living outside the wall just picks up and moves back to the fatherland ?

I guess I (along with 14 out 15 justices on the ICJ) am just part of the fringe who believes that you have every right to build a wall on YOUR property, but no right to do so anywhere else.

[CookieD]

3. Hopefully it wouldn't have to

But if Israel fairly determines that its fence must cross the Green Line for security purposes, so be it. Israel should be prepared to compensate the Palestinans for any annexed territory.

As I have said again and again, no solution will make everyone happy. There are those who believe the land rights of Palestinian farmers (who sometimes assist terrorists in crossing the border and evading capture) should trump the rights of innocent Arab and Israeli citizens who get blown up on busses. By the same token I am sure Sharon is unhappy that his fence doesn't get to cross over the Green Line for even more security and a possible land grab. Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on your point of view) Israel's Supreme Court won't allow it.

The fence should be erected as close to the Green Line as possible. Security is the paramount consideration. I think the Israeli Supreme Court decision is a good one.

[lefty_mcduff]

4. About friggin' time.

Now move the wall *completely* within Israeli borders, and all will be well. Even the most hardened skeptics would have a hard time arguing against it then.