Groups challenge Israel's 'illegal' West Bank barrier

ISRAEL'S Supreme Court heard petitions from two human rights groups against the West Bank separation barrier yesterday 24 hours after the government said it would change the route to minimise hardship for Palestinians.

The rights groups argue that any construction on occupied land is illegal and the barrier violates human rights by disrupting lives of thousands of Palestinians.

"It's a matter of building a fence which breaches the human rights of Palestinians along its path," said Avigdor Feldman, lead lawyer for the Centre for the Defence of the Individual.