News of the proposed change to the planned route of the
450-mile strip of wire and concrete broke on the eve of a visit
by U.S. envoys to discuss Sharon's plan for unilateral steps to
separate from the Palestinians if peace talks fail.
Israel has completed over 115 miles of the barrier, which
it says it needs to keep out suicide bombers. Palestinians call
it a land grab that would deny them a viable state by looping
deep into the West Bank around Jewish settlements.
The latest changes would bring the barrier nearer the
"Green Line" that formed the boundary before Israel seized the
West Bank in the 1967 Middle East War. Adjustments to the route
have been suggested before, but none so big.
Palestinians said they would still not go far enough.
"We ask Israel to move it to the Green Line," said
Palestinian cabinet minister Ghassan al-Khatib.
The political source said Sharon had given instructions to
the Defense Ministry, which is building the barrier, but that
any changes to the route would still face government approval.
Sharon's office said the prime minister had asked for
adjustments in the route of the fence to reduce friction with
Palestinians, but could give no figures as to how much of the
barrier's route might be affected.
"Sharon is trying to make these changes before a visit to
Washington," the source said.
Sharon is trying to win President Bush (news - web sites)'s approval for a
plan for separation from the Palestinians if a U.S.-backed
peace "road map" remains stalled.
The plan would likely involve setting a new "security line"
along the route of the barrier as well as the withdrawal of
settlers from the Gaza Strip (news - web sites).
Israel's Channel Two television said Sharon had decided
that the barrier would not curve around the large settlement of
Ariel, near the West Bank city of Nablus, as originally
planned.
Other changes in the routing were made to avoid fencing in
Palestinians at three villages south of Bethlehem. Still
further changes were being considered.
The Hague (news - web sites)-based International Court of Justice is weighing
the legality of the barrier after hearings last month.
(Additional reporting by Diala Saadeh in Ramallah)
