Israel told to let Arab farmers onto their land

By Tim Butcher

Palestinians celebrate Israel’s high court order that the West Bank security barrier should be moved

Israel’s high court caused jubilation among Palestinian human rights campaigners when it ordered yesterday that a section of the West Bank security barrier should be moved so that Arab farmers could reach their land.

While the ruling did not order the barrier shifted back to the line of the 1967 perimeter of the West Bank, as some critics have demanded, it nevertheless marked a step forward for the campaigners.

Abdullah Abu Rahma, one of the leaders of a weekly protest at the mile-long section of barrier near the West Bank village of Bili’in, called the court decision “wonderful”.

“This means that our struggle is fruitful,” Mr Abu Rahma said. “We will continue the struggle and we want the decision to be implemented immediately.”

Two years of protests saw routine clashes with the Israeli security forces with, according to one estimate, a total of 50 people arrested and 800 injured since the rallies began.

A panel of three judges in the court ordered the Israeli government and military to re-route a section of the barrier because it blocked residents’ access to farmland.

The judges added that Israeli security could still be guaranteed if the barrier was routed differently.

The barrier, which is mostly a fence but becomes a concrete wall near cities including Jerusalem, was begun in 2002.While many international lawyers believe it is in breach of international law - which forbids such construction on occupied land - Israel argues it is needed to stop suicide bombers travelling from the West Bank to launch attacks.

The Israeli defence ministry said it would study yesterday’s ruling and respect it.

• Haim Ramon, the Israeli deputy prime minister, yesterday proposed cutting off electricity, fuel and water to the Gaza Strip to force Hamas to stop the daily rocket fire.

“We won’t continue to supply oxygen [to Gaza] in the form of electricity, fuel and water when they are trying to kill our children,” he told an Israeli radio station.

The prime minister, Ehud Olmert, had earlier instructed the army “to destroy every Qassam rocket launcher and anyone involved in their launching” after a rocket exploded in the town of Sderot.

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