Israel 'to review' barrier route

Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz has ordered a review of the route of the country’s separation barrier with the West Bank to better consider Palestinians concerns, it was reported today.

Peretz, the leader of the dovish Labour Party, wants to ensure the barrier’s position is based on security considerations alone, not on an intent to expand settlements and cement Israel’s hold on disputed lands, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper said.

The decision regards the entire route of the barrier, including sections that have already been built and may need to be rerouted as a consequence of the decision, Haaretz said.

Israel says the barrier helps keep Palestinian suicide bombers out of the country. Palestinians say the barrier is meant to take West Bank land they want for a future state.

Peretz’s decision came after the Supreme Court last week ordered the defence ministry to reroute a three-mile-long section of the barrier near the Palestinian town of Qalqiliya, saying that the obstacle in the area was being used to allow an expansion of a Jewish settlement, not purely for security reasons.

The Defence Minister wants to avoid other such court rulings in the future, Haaretz said.

Human rights and Palestinian groups allege there are at least 10 instances along the route of the barrier where Israel took West Bank land in building the barrier with the sole intent of allowing the expansion of settlements.

The Israeli government has repeatedly insisted that the barrier is being built for security concerns alone, not political ones.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that Israel’s final borders, which he plans to set down by 2008, will run approximately along the route of the barrier.