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Israeli Court Orders West Bank Wall Rerouted

HeadlineJun 30, 2004

Israel’s High Court has ruled Israel must reroute part of its massive wall through the West Bank because portions would cut off tens of thousands of Palestinians from their jobs, schools and farms. The court ruled that the wall “injures the local inhabitants in a severe and acute way while violating their rights under humanitarian and international law.” The ruling affects a 19-mile section of the wall near Jerusalem but opens up challenges to other portions of the structure, which will eventually stretch for 400 miles through the occupied territory. Israel says the wall is a necessary security measure but Palestinians view it as an apartheid wall. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei praised the ruling but said the whole wall should be torn down. He said, “It’s a racist separation wall and therefore it should fall. There is no other alternative.” The International Court of Justice is scheduled to also rule on the legality of the wall, which is largely built on Palestinian land, on July 9.

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