Analysis: Change the fence route in northeast J'lem too
By Danny Rubinstein, Haaretz Correspondent
Wednesday's High Court of Justice verdict ordering changes to 30 kilometers of the route of the West Bank separation fence does not negate the construction of the fence in principle - it even accepts the state's stance that the current route adequately represents Israel's security requirements. However, the court also considered the hardship caused to Palestinians, stating that if these hardships are unacceptable, the fence must be moved. Now the verdict must also be applied to the route of the fence in northeast Jerusalem, before life in the area is completely disrupted.
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The High Court's verdict relates to the route of the fence to the west and northwest of Jerusalem, which is a particularly problematic section for the Palestinians. Highway 443, running from Modi'in to Pizgat Ze'ev, had to be included south of the fence route. This area includes a large cluster of Arab settlements such as Bidu and Beit Lahiya, and the fence would close them off in an enclave.
This also holds true north of Ramallah, where the fence was to come very close to a row of Arab villages including Budrus, whose residents have protested against the route of the fence during the last few months.
Building the fence on the original route would have severely limited the movement of thousands of Palestinians, whose mobility is subject to special permits. Agricultural land would have been expropriated and residents' access to thousands of agricultural acres would have become very difficult. Many families would have lost their livelihood.
The High Court will next be asked to debate the route of a fence and wall slated for construction in the crowded Arab area of northeast Jerusalem, which will cause severe hardship to more than 200,000 residents. Upon completion of the fence, and of the wall that passes through the road to Ramallah, tens of thousands of people will have to pass through a single large terminal scheduled to be built on the current site of the Qalandiyah checkpoint.
Children studying at schools near their homes will be forced to go through the terminal on a route that will take them hours. Most of the Palestinians will arrive at the terminal at peak hours, which is likely to cause chaos. In effect, the entire lifestyle of the area's residents is likely to collapse.
The route of the fence in the Samaria section of the West Bank has taken away the livelihood of thousands of Arab residents who returned to cultivate their land after losing their jobs in Israel. On several occasions the Israeli security establishment demonstrated understanding about the situation, and the route was slightly changed. It would be appropriate if in northeast Jerusalem too, those who plan the route of the fence will turn their attention to the damage and suffering the current route creates, and work toward minimizing the harm as much as possible.
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