Sharon Ally: Border Will Follow Barrier

AP ^ | 12/1/5 | LAURIE COPANS

[SmithL]

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israel's border with a future Palestinian state will roughly follow the route of the contentious barrier Israel is building along and inside the West Bank, a top ally of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quoted Thursday as saying.

The comments by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni buttressed Palestinian claims that the fortification of electrified fences, 25-foot-high concrete walls and razor wire is meant to take land they want for a future state and is not motivated by security.

"One does not have to be a genius to see that the fence will have implications for the future border," Livni told a legal conference this week, according to Livni's spokesman, Shai Ben-Mor. "This is not the reason it was built, but it could have political implications."

In court challenges to the route, Israel has argued that the 425-mile barrier — whose construction began after a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings in 2002 — is being built only to stop the bombers from entering Israel.

The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Livni's comments confirmed that the barrier was a pretext for taking lands the Palestinians want for their state.

[SmithL]

The so-called Palestinians don't get a voice regarding the border for as long as they refuse to negotiate in good faith.

[tom h]

"Ally: Border Will Follow Barrier

The so-called Palestinians don't get a voice regarding the border for as long as they refuse to negotiate in good faith. "

Thank goodness the Israelis have the b-lls to not care what the world thinks. The only way to negotiate with the Palis is from strength. Niceness or politeness will never work.

I met someone who had the opportunity to fly over the wall in a helicopter and he said it is amazing. And it works. The suicide bombings have basically stopped.

The Palestinians are stupid. They never think through the ramifications of what they do. Then they whine on the world stage about mistreatment.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

..................

[dagnabbit]

Before carping about more land, perhaps the "Palestinians" should try first to create something in Gaza beyond their current "Lord of the Flies" reenactment.

[Valin]

I guess I always assumed it would.

[carton253]

No, they aren't stupid. Whereas you are right that they don't think through the ramifications... they don't have to. Just like a spoiled child, they run to mommy (europe and the UN) who then exert enormous pressure on Israel to treat the child right.

That's why they aren't stupid. They are winning a very public battle.