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Israeli Cabinet approves extension of security barrier
Jerusalem, Oct 01: Israel`s cabinet today approved an extension of a security barrier that would swing around Jewish settlements deep in the West Bank, but would have large gaps for now to address US concerns, Israeli media said.
Jerusalem, Oct 01: Israel's cabinet today approved
an extension of a security barrier that would swing around
Jewish settlements deep in the West Bank, but would have large
gaps for now to address US concerns, Israeli media said.
A barrier would be built East of Ariel - with 18,000
residents the second largest settlement in the West Bank - but
would not immediately be connected to the main security fence
which runs further west, closer to Israel.
Palestinian officials demanded that the United States stop the construction. "This (the barrier) is a deliberate attempt by the Israeli government to sabotage President Bush's vision of a two-state solution, to undermine the peace process and to destroy the road map (peace plan)," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. The United States wants the barrier to run close to the Green Line, the frontier between Israel and the West Bank before the 1967 Mideast war. The bush administration has said it might deduct some of the construction cost for the barrier from US$9 billion in US loan guarantees to Israel. In other developments today, the incoming Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmed Qureia, said he has reached agreement on the formation of a cabinet and would present it to Parliament on Sunday and Monday. Qureia would not discuss the size and composition of his new government.
Bureau Report
Palestinian officials demanded that the United States stop the construction. "This (the barrier) is a deliberate attempt by the Israeli government to sabotage President Bush's vision of a two-state solution, to undermine the peace process and to destroy the road map (peace plan)," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. The United States wants the barrier to run close to the Green Line, the frontier between Israel and the West Bank before the 1967 Mideast war. The bush administration has said it might deduct some of the construction cost for the barrier from US$9 billion in US loan guarantees to Israel. In other developments today, the incoming Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmed Qureia, said he has reached agreement on the formation of a cabinet and would present it to Parliament on Sunday and Monday. Qureia would not discuss the size and composition of his new government.
Bureau Report