Israel’s supreme court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by Palestinians living on the outskirts of East Jerusalem against the construction of a new section of its West Bank separation barrier.
Residents of al-Azaria, a Jerusalem suburb which is technically in the West Bank, had filed a petition against building work on the barrier, which will cut them off from the holy city while encircling the major Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim.
But judges ruled on Tuesday that the defence ministry had taken adequate consideration of the barrier’s impact on residents while balancing the security needs of Israeli citizens.
Israel justifies the massive barrier of electric fencing, barbed wire and concrete walls by insisting it is vital to stop potential attackers from infiltrating the country and settlements in the West Bank.
The Palestinians have condemned the wall, which follows a 670-km route, as an attempt to grab their land and undermine the viability of their promised state.
The United Nations’ International Court of Justice issued a non-binding ruling in July, 2004 that parts of the barrier which criss-crosses the West Bank were illegal and should be torn down.
According to the UN humanitarian affairs coordinator’s office, three-quarters of the proposed barrier will lie on the West Bank and only 145km follows the ”Green Line” between Israel and the territory.
Although Israel has since modified its route along some stretches, the government has vowed to complete the barrier project, which had been due for completion by the end of 2005. – Sapa-AFP