Mapmakers Move West Bank Barrier Route

[GreenPartyVoter]

JERUSALEM (AP) - Cartographers have begun redrawing the planned route of the West Bank separation barrier closer to Israel, in line with an Israeli court ruling that the government must reduce hardship for Palestinian residents, officials said Tuesday.

Later this week, planners will present three different options for a new route to the Defense Ministry for approval, security officials said on condition of anonymity. All three routes are significantly closer to Israel than the original path.

"We're looking at ways to bring the fence closer to the Green Line," said Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir, referring to Israel's pre-1967 Mideast War frontier with the West Bank.

Hassan Abu Libdeh, the Palestinian Cabinet secretary, said Israel must build the barrier entirely on its territory, and that any changes falling short of that are unacceptable.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20040713/D83PTN881.html?PG=home&SEC=news