Court rules “Israel” barrier be moved

Source: aljazeera.net, 04-09-2007
"Israel's" supreme court has ruled that the state must redraw the route of its separation barrier to divert it from a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday by a three-judge panel, comes after residents of Bilin argued to the court that the barrier had cut them off from their agricultural land.
"We were not convinced that it is necessary for security-military reasons to retain the current route that passes on Bilin`s lands," chief justice Dorit Beinish wrote in the decision.
The panel ordered that defense (war) planners alter the barrier`s route so it causes less harm to Bilin`s residents.
The judges said that "this will require destroying the existing fence in certain places and building a new one," and ordered the government to provide a new route in a "reasonable period of time".
Barrier protest
Bilin`s residents and their "Israeli" and foreign supporters have protested at the barrier every Saturday for more than two years, with dozens of people being wounded in clashes with "Israeli" police.
The barrier`s route through Bilin was completed despite the protests, with the "Israeli" government arguing that its position was designed to protect residents of Modiin Illit, an illegal "Israeli" settlement nearby.
Although today's decision is seen a victory in the struggle against oppressive consequences of the "Israeli" Occupation and a victory for the villagers of Bilin, it is important to recognize that the route of the wall still deviates from internationally recognized armistice lines and is still in violation of international law, resolutions and advisories made within the International Court of Justice and within the UN Security Council.
"Bilin became a symbol of the non-violent civil protest against the fence. Winning here was very crucial, not only for the villagers but also for the `Israeli` army, [who] lost," he said. "I think we have seen in the last few months that the `Israeli` supreme does not believe the army automatically whenever it screams security considerations. This is a very positive sign for future legal battles."
Sfard said any proposed new route for the wall would be closely investigated to ensure it adheres to the court ruling.
Residents protest
Abdullah Abu Rahma, one of the leaders of the weekly protest at Bilin, said the ruling must be observed without delay.
"We want the decision to be implemented immediately," he said.
"Israel" started building the 680km barrier along the West Bank in 2002, saying it was necessary to prevent Palestinian suicide bombers from entering "Israeli" territory.
However, the barrier cuts into the "Israeli"-occupied West Bank and Palestinians say that "Israel" is using the barrier to grab their land.