- JERUSALEM (AP) -- The final
route of Israel's separation barrier around Jerusalem will encompass large
areas claimed by the Palestinians, including their intended capital and
the biggest Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Israeli officials confirmed
Monday.
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- The route would also place a holy site in the Palestinian
town of Bethlehem on the Israeli side of the barrier, while leaving a Palestinian
refugee camp in Jerusalem encircled by a separate fence, the officials
said.
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- Israel began building the barrier in the West Bank two
years ago, saying it was needed to keep out Palestinian attackers. Palestinians
say the structure, which dips into the West Bank, is an attempt by Israel
to impose a border without waiting for a peace deal.
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- The section around Jerusalem is especially sensitive.
The Palestinians hope to establish their capital in east Jerusalem, a traditional
Arab commercial, religious and social centre. Israel, which captured east
Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, claims all the city as its capital.
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- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened a meeting
of senior Cabinet ministers late Sunday to discuss the route of the barrier,
which got Cabinet approval last month.
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- Under the plan, the West Bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim,
which lies about eight kilometres east of Jerusalem, would be on the Israeli
side of the barrier, Israeli officials said. Some 30,000 Israelis live
in Maaleh Adumim, the largest Jewish settlement.
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- "Does anyone have even the slightest doubt that
Maaleh Adumim is an integral part of Israel?" said Israeli vice-premier
Ehud Olmert, who heads a ministerial committee on the Jerusalem barrier.
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- A senior Israeli official said the committee is planning
11 crossings to allow access from the West Bank.
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- The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
construction is to be completed by year's end and no major changes in the
route are expected. A number of legal challenges filed by Palestinian villagers
are pending in Israeli courts.
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- The Palestinian refugee camp of Shuafat, which straddles
the Jerusalem municipal boundary, will remain on the Israeli side of the
barrier. It will be encircled by a separate fence, with a crossing into
the city.
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- The bustling streets of Shuafat - sandwiched between
two Jewish neighborhoods - were buzzing with speculation Monday about the
planned fence.
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- "Jerusalem is considered to this camp like the heart
to the body," said Mohammed Omar, a 50-year-old teacher in Shuafat.
"All [residents'] activities are in Jerusalem."
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- According to the United Nations, 11,250 people live in
the camp, a maze of narrow, dusty streets and densely packed gray concrete
buildings. Israeli officials said the camp has been used as a launching
point by Palestinian attackers, and the fence is needed for security.
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- In Bethlehem, the barrier will divide Rachel's Tomb,
a Jewish shrine, from the rest of the city. Concrete slabs already have
virtually cut off Bethlehem from Jerusalem.
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- Bethlehem's tourist industry has been devastated by four
years of violence. Nasser Salama, a laborer who works in Jerusalem, fears
the barrier will cause more hardship.
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- "There's no work in Bethlehem. We won't be able
to buy food," he said.
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- Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the route could
destroy peace efforts. "This prejudges and prejudices the outcome
of permanent status negotiations," he said.
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- Last year, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution
against the barrier and the world court said in an advisory ruling that
the barrier is illegal and must be torn down.
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- In the West Bank city of Ramallah, UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan said after a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas that
the United Nations is establishing a register of damages to Palestinian
property and claims against Israel resulting from the barrier construction.
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- As Mr. Annan spoke, Palestinian policemen restrained
hundreds of demonstrators outside the government compound. The protesters
carried signs reading "Bring down the wall," and scuffled with
policemen.
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