Jerusalem, Aug 08: Israel is examining alternative routes for the next section of a controversial west bank security barrier which has come under fire from Washington, a senior government official said today. "It is possible to find alternatives to the route. Taking into account the remarks of the Americans and the clearly expressed desire of the Prime Minister (Ariel Sharon) to minimise any possible damage caused to the Palestinians by the construction," the official told the reporters on condition of anonymity. He said it was possible that alternative ways could be found to protect the large Jewish settlement of Ariel, which lies around 20 km inside the West Bank.
"There is a possibility to protect Ariel in a different way," he said.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that Washington remained worried that the barrier would complicate promised negotiations on the borders of a Palestinian state.

Although US President George W Bush has said that he understands Israel's desire to protect its citizens, Powell said the construction of the barrier should not be allowed to "prejudice anyone else's property, anyone else's rights".
"It's when the fence begins to intrude on land that is not on the Israeli side of the green line or starts to intrude in a way that makes it more difficult for us to make the case for a viable Palestinian state. It is appropriate for US to say to our Israeli friends we have a problem here," Powell told reporters.
Bureau Report