GAZA CITY, 16 June 2006 — The Israeli Supreme Court yesterday asked the government to tear down part of a separation wall it has built in the West Bank as Hamas offered to cease fire and pressure other armed Palestinian groups to stop firing rockets into Israel.
The part of the wall that the court asked the government to dismantle effectively incorporates into Israel the northern Jewish settlement of Tzofim, along with around 100 hectares (250 acres) of land from the Palestinian villages of Azun and Nebi Elias.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court criticized the state for not providing all considerations behind the route of that five-kilometer sector of the wall.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem said the court had “essentially ruled that the state lied” over claims that the route of the 670-km (415-mile) wall “is based solely on security considerations.”
The court gave the state six months to dismantle the section of the wall and build an alternative route which does not siphon off village land.
Israel justifies the wall that snakes across the West Bank as vital to stop potential attackers from infiltrating the country and Jewish settlements. The Palestinians condemn it as an attempt to grab land and undermine the viability of their promised future state.
The UN International Court of Justice issued a non-binding ruling in 2004 that parts of the wall in the West Bank were illegal and should be removed.
The UN humanitarian affairs coordinator’s office says three-quarters of the wall lies in the West Bank while only 145 km follow the “Green Line” separating Israel and the Palestinian territory.
Announcing the cease-fire offer, Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said here: “We are interested to keep the situation quiet, especially in the Gaza Strip. We have contacts with Palestinian groups and are ready to persuade them to keep the peace but only if the Israeli side has a strong intention to respond positively to the call... to stop their aggression.”
Israel welcomed the gesture. “If it is quiet we will answer that with quiet,” said Mark Regev spokesman for Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Yesterday Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh received a strong indirect warning from Israeli Shin Bet security chief Yuval Diskin that Tel Aviv would target Hamas leaders if the movement were to continue firing rockets into Israel. Defense Minister Amir Peretz confirmed that Israel conveyed the message to senior Palestinian government officials.
— Additional input from agencies
