Court orders Israel to tear down West Bank barrier segment

[Violet_Crumble]

Jerusalem, June 15: Israel's Supreme Court today ordered the state to dismantle a section of its controversial West Bank separation barrier following an appeal from two Palestinian villages, a legal source said.

The part of the barrier in question effectively incorporates into Israel the Northern Jewish settlement of Tzofim, along with around 2,500 acres of land from the Palestinian villages of Azun and Nebi Elias.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court criticised the state for not providing all considerations behind the route of that five-kilometre sector of the barrier.

Israeli rights group B'tselem said the court had "essentially ruled that the state lied" over claims that the route of the 670-kilometre barrier "is based solely on security considerations".

The court gave the state six months to dismantle the section of the barrier and build an alternative route which does not siphon off village land.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=302563&sid=WOR

[BayCityProgressive]

1. This is good

I am pro-Israeli and I don't see a problem with the wall. I can see incorporating land inside the wall that is needed for defense purposes. If this land was not needed leave it to the Palestinians. Don't give them any more reasons to suicide bomb than they already have.

[Tom Joad]

2. Confiscate land for "defense purposes"?

That's not pro-Israel, that is pro-war.

Most of the wall is inside the West Bank, taking land that is beyond the international recognized borders of Israel (though Israel itself does not really define its borders, which is quite unique among nations). The wall destroys whole Palestinian communities, separating farmers from their land, Palestinian communities from other Palestinian communities. It separates people from necessary services, makes travel difficult or impossible, as well as commerce.

In other words, causes incalculable suffering for the Palestinian people. That is, it serves the purpose for which it was intended.

Still, do appreciate the fact that you (and even more importantly, the Israeli courts) see that some parts of it need to come down

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tom Joad]

6. I noticed how you went into a rant about 1940's, ignoring the year 2006

the question of the legality of the wall, the suffering it is causing present day Palestinians.

You seem to be saying that Palestinians are "not worthy" of human rights. Such a position causes the conflict to continue, and suffering for both Palestinians and Israelis.

[Tom Joad]

3. The Annexation Wall will come down. See this website for more info

http://www.stopthewall.org/

[Tom Joad]

5. The International Court of Justice Declares: THE WALL IS ILLEGAL!

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, despite intense pressure from Israel, the US and EU Governments, confirms what Palestinians and the world have known since the beginning of its planning and construction - THE WALL IS ILLEGAL!

Citing the Right to Self Determination, the Fourth Geneva Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, relevant human rights and humanitarian law, as well as the Rights to Freedom of Movement, Work, Education, Health, Food and Water, Religion and the Right of the Child, the ICJ voted 14-1 that "construction of the wall and its associated regime are contrary to international law" 14-1 that Israel must immediately cease construction of the Wall in all areas, dismantle parts already build and repeal any legislation or regulation relating to the Wall and 14-1 that Israel must make reparations for damages caused by construction of the Wall.

The ICJ reiterates the illegality of Israeli settlements and their relationship to the Wall’s path, referring to the Wall’s unilateral demarcation of a new border in the West Bank, seizure and destruction of property, the effective annexation of occupied lands and settlements and the demographic changes within Palestine as a result of the Wall’s construction. In an important assertion, the Court fully disregards the relevance of the Israeli position that the Wall is for "security" or "self defense."
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/637.shtml