Muslim blocs slam Israeli barrier as hearing ends

11.45am

THE HAGUE - Two Muslim blocs backed a Palestinian challenge to Israel's West Bank barrier in the World Court on Wednesday and Israeli political sources disclosed tentative plans to shorten the network of fences and walls.

The sources said Israel aimed to trim the barrier's planned route by some 80km to 640km, but said the proposed changes were more about pleasing Israel's ally the United States than impressing the court.

The Arab League and Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which represent about 20 per cent of the world population and include some of Israel's fiercest foes, testified on the last of three days of hearings in what has become one of the highest profile cases in the court's 58-year history.

"Does this not all bring back to the present the Berlin Wall episode which was dubbed the wall of shame?" Arab League representative Michael Bothe said in the court in The Hague.

"The wall is profoundly affecting living conditions in the Palestinian occupied territories. It leads to migration, to the displacement of major parts of the Palestinian population, to a consolidation of the unlawful Israeli settlements."

Israel says it needs the barrier to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers, who struck again on Sunday -- the eve of the court hearing -- killing eight people. Palestinians, who want the court to declare the barrier illegal, call it a land grab.

"With the wall there is no longer a viable Palestine, thus no peace possible between the two states," said Monique Chemillier-Gendreau, legal adviser to the 57-member OIC.

Israeli political sources said the route would be trimmed to mollify Washington and secure its backing for a broader plan of steps to separate from the Palestinians. A shorter route would also ease suffering of Palestinians in its path, they said.

But the Defence Ministry, responsible for building the barrier, emphasised that any changes would need government approval. About 180km have been built so far.

Hundreds of Palestinian protesters chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) clashed with Israeli security forces on Wednesday near where work has begun on a new section of fence to the northwest of Jerusalem.

The case in the Hague has underlined the stalemate in peacemaking efforts after more than three years of violence.

Israeli troops firing teargas and rubber bullets raided four banks in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday in what security sources called a hunt for militants' funds.

Israeli security sources said more than 400 bank accounts belonging to militant cells and charities that "support terror" were found and more than US$3 million ($4.4 million) confiscated. Local medics said 42 people were wounded, five critically, in the clashes.

Not far away, Palestinian president Yasser Arafat convened a rare meeting of leaders of his Fatah movement to debate reforms demanded by a younger generation disgruntled over disorganisation and alleged corruption.

Fatah officials said they might also consider dissolving an armed wing responsible for suicide attacks on Israelis.

The World Court's 15 judges are expected to issue their opinion within months. Their decision will be non-binding but could influence world opinion and the Palestinians hope it could pave the way for international sanctions against Israel.

Israel snubbed the hearings, disputing the court's right to rule in the case. Prime minister Ariel Sharon dismissed the hearings as an "international circus".

Although they criticise the barrier's route, the United States and European Union also declined to appear, saying they fear a court ruling could complicate peace efforts.

"It was significant that only 12 out of the 191 member states of the United Nations participated... including gross violators of human rights," Daniel Taub, an Israeli foreign ministry observer, told journalists after the hearings.

Only a dozen countries including Jordan, Cuba, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, gave oral testimony on behalf of Palestinians.

- REUTERS