Posted on 08/19/2003 8:23:50 AM PDT by Brian S
Israel Vows to Press on With Construction of West Bank Barrier Despite U.S. Criticism
The Associated Press
JERUSALEM Aug. 19 — Israel said Tuesday it would press on with construction of a barrier through the West Bank, confiscating Palestinian property near Jerusalem for a project that has drawn harsh criticism from the United States.
Israel plans a series of massive cement walls, electronic fencing, barbed wire and trenches between the West Bank and Israel to prevent suicide bombers from launching attacks.
The plan, which has already seen sections built in Jerusalem and the West Bank, has outraged Palestinians, and U.S. President George W. Bush has called it a "problem." But Israel's defense minister was adamant Tuesday that the project had already prevented attacks and would go ahead at full-speed.
"I think it is very necessary for Israel that the continuation of the fence be carried out in line with the established timetable," Mofaz said after inspecting the barrier near the Jewish settlement of Alfei Menashe. "Including the section around Jerusalem."
Near Jerusalem, Israel has begun expropriating the land of Palestinians for a barrier that will cut them off both from the city and the West Bank hinterland, officials said.
Dozens of families in four towns Abu Dis, Izzariyeh, Tsur Baher and Al-Sawahreh Al-Sharkia received confiscation notices late last week, said Khalil Tufakji, a Palestinian cartographer.
Once the fence round Jerusalem is completed, tens of thousands of Palestinians will have to use just one road manned by Israeli soldiers to get in and out of the fenced-in area, he added.
"All these villages on the outskirts of Jerusalem will be isolated and the only way to move outside them or to enter them will be through a couple of Israeli checkpoints," Tufakji said. "Under the umbrella of security, Israel is implementing its political plan to isolate villages around Jerusalem and to turn them into isolated cantons."
Israel built a concrete wall between the towns and Jerusalem more than a year ago, already separating residents from the eastern sector of the city.
The wall increased the travel time between the towns and east Jerusalem from about 5 minutes to an hour or more. The new electronic fence will make it almost as difficult for them to get into the West Bank.
An Israeli security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed Israel had distributed the confiscation orders, and said construction could begin within a month.
U.S. President Bush opposes Israel's plan to build the barrier, especially as Israel and the Palestinians are trying to implement the U.S.-backed "road map" to peace.
Bush earlier this month called for the plans to be changed, because it "meanders around the West Bank, which makes it awfully hard to develop a contiguous (Palestinian) state over time."
In a meeting Monday with U.S. Sen. John McCain, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas expressed his displeasure with Israel's decision to go ahead with the barrier, which Palestinians fear will be used as a final border during statehood negotiations.
According to minutes of the meeting, Abbas told McCain: "This is threatening the final agreement between the two sides. It separates the Palestinian lands from each other and sabotages the vision of President Bush to establish an independent Palestinian state near the state of Israel."
Meanwhile, efforts to implement the "road map" hit other obstacles as Israel and the Palestinians struggled to agree terms for Israel to withdraw from Qalqiliya and Jericho.
Palestinians are insisting Israel remove checkpoints outside the West Bank towns, while Israel is demanding the Palestinians set up a detailed plan for keeping tabs on militants whom they refuse to arrest for fear of sparking internal fighting.
Talks were set to resume Tuesday and an Israeli army spokesman said Israel could withdraw from Qalqiliya and Jericho in the coming days. The initial pullout planned for Tuesday was postponed when the sides failed to agree to the details.
Mofaz and Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan have agreed in principle on an Israeli handover of the towns of Jericho, Qalqiliya, Tulkarem and Ramallah, within two weeks.
Hats off to Israel!
Maybe other Arab countries will offer them economic support? HAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHA, ohhhhh, , ok, that was a little joke.
The phrase "public land that Israel administers" is contentious if not disingenuous. I believe the land is more commonly referred to as "occupied territory." What is the legal basis for exercising eminent domain in an occupied territory?
What is the legal basis of calling the West Bank "Occupied Territory?" As the land was not owned by a sovereign power when Israel took control of it from Jordan, Israel is not an occupying power. That the media and UN ignore the actual definition in the case of Israel is a problem.
If they were building the wall on the green line it would look a lot more like a defensive action and a lot less like a land grab.
Israel already controls the entire area! It is effectively ceding 95% of the disputed territory.
You assume a Palestinina state on the West Bank. None exists.
Israel already controls the entire area! It is effectively ceding 95% of the disputed territory.
The fact that they control the territory is immaterial. I've seen maps where the fence will partition a lot more than 5%. The fence, and its purpose of security, needs to be disentangled from the issue of territory. Unless it is, the motive for building it remains in question.
You assume a Palestinina state on the West Bank. None exists.
I assume an eventual end to the occupation, either with annexation and grant of citizenship or partition and Palestinian statehood.
The fact that they control the territory is immaterial. I've seen maps where the fence will partition a lot more than 5%. The fence, and its purpose of security, needs to be disentangled from the issue of territory. Unless it is, the motive for building it remains in question.
Israel does not need a fence to take disputed land. It is the military power here. It could expell the Palestinians and get all the land. The fence is setting facts on the ground. I don't support it because it unilaterally cedes a lot of land, including many holy sites.
I assume an eventual end to the occupation, either with annexation and grant of citizenship or partition and Palestinian statehood.
Annexation and citizenship is the end of Israel.
PArtition is far more likely (at least until another war). However, there is no reason that all disputed territory should go to the Arabs. The Palis have 3/4 of Palestine in Jordan.
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