Israeli supreme court delivers symbolic victory to Palestinians

In an embarrassing blow to the Israeli government, the Supreme Court today ordered the state to redraw the route of its West Bank separation barrier in a symbolic flashpoint.

The decision forces defence planners to change the route of the barrier in Bilin, a Palestinian town that has held weekly protests against the structure for several years.

Residents had argued the current route prevented them from reaching agricultural land, and the protests have sometimes turned violent.