Violence flares as Israel says it plans to extend security barrier

VIOLENCE flared in Palestine yesterday as Israel said it planned to extend its security barrier into a new area of the West Bank, despite international pressure to stop construction.

The new segment would cut off the Jordan Valley a region on the eastern side of the West Bank where Israel has a number of settlement and connect it to Israel.

Earlier this month, the Israeli government approved a series of security barriers that would run through the West Bank, in most areas relatively close to Israel. The Jordan Valley segment, which would be much further to the east, has not yet been presented to the government for approval, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.