- The route of the separation fence east of Jerusalem will
include a wide swath of territory extending to the Alon Road and cliffs
of Wadi Kelt, according to a plan prepared by the defense establishment.
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- In addition to the West Bank city of Ma'aleh Adumim,
the fence will encompass the Mishor Adumim industrial area, the Kfar Adumin
settlement and Palestinian villages such as Hizmeh and Anata.
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- When the government approved the route of the separation
fence on October 1, it did not include planning for the area east of Jerusalem.
So far, fence construction has begun on the southern and northern outskirts
of the capital. The route of the fence planned to encircle northern Jerusalem
has been revised several times. The latest plan calls for a "minimalist"
route that leaves the village of A-Ram east of the fence.
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- According to the current plan, which may still be subject
to revision, the fence will approach A-Ram, near the Atarot airport and
Qalandiyah refugee camp. It will then turn east, encompassing the Geva
Binyamin (Adam) settlement, and continue as far as the cliffs of Wadi Kelt
and the Alon Road. (No fence will be necessary along the Wadi Kelt cliffs,
which constitute a natural barrier.)
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- At the Good Samaritan junction, the fence will turn southwest,
circling around Ma'aleh Adumim and linking up with the existing fence to
the north and east of Abu Dis and Azzariyeh. (Most of the residents of
these two communities will not be included within the confines of the fence.)
The fence will be integrated into the E-1 plan approved by the Netanyahu
government toward the end of its term in 1999. The E-1 plan greatly expanded
the territorial jurisdiction of Ma'aleh Adumim. Though there are relatively
few Palestinians living in this area - with the exception of the Jahalin
Bedouin tribes near Ma'aleh Adumim - it is a large expanse similar in size
to the "finger" planned in the Ariel region, further north in
the West Bank.
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- If the current plan for the Jerusalem fence is approved
by the government, it would likely face opposition from the U.S. administration.
There is also some disagreement among defense officials. Some Israel Defense
Forces officers argue there is no justification for including so much territory
west of the fence. Police Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki also favors a
more modest fence route, while the commander of the Jerusalem police, Mickey
Levy, would like to see the fence provide as wide a buffer as possible
for the city.
- http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/358831.html
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