Israel moves to define - and secure - its borders

Israel has modified the route of its West Bank separation barrier, moving forward with Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to quickly define the country’s final borders as his Kadima Party secured a parliamentary majority.

The Israeli Cabinet voted yesterday to reroute an area near the major settlement of Ariel deep in the West Bank, and approved putting temporary fencing around areas of Jerusalem abutting the West Bank. The moves will put thousands of Palestinians on the “Palestinian” side of the enclosure, officials said.

Palestinians said Israel is imposing its will over disputed land and trying to strengthen its claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem.

“We must make a supreme effort to complete the security barrier wherever possible,” Olmert told the ministers. ”The decisions we take today will allow us to complete the construction of the fence very quickly in critical areas, and therefore improve our ability to thwart attempted attacks.”

Israel began construction of the barrier four years ago, saying it needed to keep suicide bombers out of the country. Olmert says the barrier will serve as the basis for Israel’s final border with the West Bank, which Israel won from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war.

Olmert, whose Kadima Party won March 28 elections, says he hopes to reach an agreed settlement with the Palestinians but will move forward unilaterally if he concludes there is no negotiating partner on the other side.

His Kadima Party signed a coalition deal yesterday with the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, securing a parliamentary majority, Israeli media reported. Shas, however, has expressed reservations about Olmert’s withdrawal plan.

Kadima captured 29 seats in the elections and Olmert has since been negotiating with other parties to secure a majority in the 120-seat parliament. With Shas on board, the coalition now controls 67 seats.

Israel Radio said Olmert was continuing negotiations with other parties and that the new government could be sworn in on Thursday.

Shas was noncommittal toward Olmert’s withdrawal plan. Shas voters tend to be hawkish, and the party last year opposed Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

The coalition agreement allows Shas to decide whether to support the evacuation plan once it becomes an item on the government’s agenda, the Haaretz daily reported on its Web site. Olmert has previously said his coalition partners would have to accept his plan.