RAMALLAH, West Bank, 26 January 2005 — Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei accused Israel of bad faith yesterday by resuming construction on one of the most controversial sections of the West Bank wall, casting a shadow over coordinated efforts to put a halt to attacks by Palestinian groups.
As hundreds of demonstrators protested against building work on the section of the wall near the settlement of Ariel, Qorei said that Israel had sent a clear message with such a provocative move at a time when Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is trying to put an end to four years of violence.
“We are making 100 percent efforts to bring about a cease-fire but Israel is sending us an ugly message by working on the wall,” Qorei told reporters.
“This is going to lead to the confiscation of large amount of land. The world should be aware of what Israel is doing,” he added.
Qorei said the Palestinians would make US envoy William Burns “aware of the situation on the ground” when he holds talks with the new Palestinian leadership on a visit to the West Bank later this week. Several hundred Palestinian and foreign protesters were involved in minor scuffles with Israeli troops yesterday as they tried to stop work on the wall in the village of Iskaka, close to Ariel, witnesses said.
Around 300 locals and members of the International Solidarity Movement had gathered in the village of Iskaka where bulldozers resumed work on Monday after a seven-month stoppage. Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz had given the green light to the resumption of work which was halted on June 25 by order of the Israeli Supreme Court.
Construction of the Ariel section is particularly contentious as it is situated around 20 kilometers inside the West Bank.
The row over work on the barrier is the first major Palestinian disagreement with Israel since Abbas’s election on Jan. 9.
In another development bulldozers began demolishing buildings illegally built by Palestinian groups and security men on public land. Bulldozers swung into action in north Gaza where 2,000 security forces deployed under Abbas’ orders to prevent attacks on Israelis to help him revive peace talks.
