Israel’s ‘Berlin Wall’ wrecks peace hopes, say Palestinians

PALESTINIANS urged the World Court yesterday to declare Israel’s ‘Berlin Wall’ illegal, arguing it would wreck the chances of a peaceful settlement in the Middle East.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague began three days of hearings on the legality of the barrier slicing through Palestinian territory, bringing Israel’s occupation policies before an international tribunal for the first time.

The hearing came a day after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed eight Israelis and wounded dozens on a Jerusalem bus. The Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, an armed group with ties to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, claimed responsibility.