Israel's Fence Change 'a Help' |
http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/02/17 10:27 Shanghai Daily |
Changing the proposed route of the West Bank separation barrier could have helped Israel's case before the world court, a government legal adviser said yesterday. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said in recent weeks he is considering route changes, to ease the hardship for Palestinians. Sharon reportedly is ready to move the barrier further west, closer to Israel, in some areas. Israel announced on Thursday that it will not take part in oral hearings before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, saying that the judges don't have the authority to rule on the case. The hearings begin on February 23. "If we had changed the route earlier it could have had an effect (on the hearing). It would have taken the wind out of their (the opponents') sails," said Irit Kahan, head of the international division in Israel's attorney general's office. "Already some time ago, the government realized that the route of the fence was problematic but they didn't begin to change it in time for the court discussion," Kahan said. "The issue is not the fence itself, but the route of the fence." Israel says it needs the barrier - fences, trenches and walls that could run for up to 750 kilometers - to keep out Palestinian attackers. (The Associated Press) |
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