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Israel Will Keep Building Security Fence

Posted on: Tuesday, 29 July 2003, 06:00 CDT

Israel will continue building a security fence that cuts into the West Bank despite criticism of the project by President Bush but will try to minimize disruptions to Palestinians, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Bush Tuesday.

Bush stopped short of pressing the Israeli leader to halt construction but urged him to consider the consequences of such actions on the peace process.

"I would hope in the long term a fence would be irrelevant. But, look, the fence is a sensitive issue, I understand," the president said, standing alongside Sharon at a Rose Garden news conference.

Bush had criticized the fence just four days earlier during a White House meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, calling it a potential obstacle to peace.

The back-to-back meetings came as Bush sought to re-energize a U.S.-backed peace plan he launched in early June in Aqaba, Jordan, that calls for establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005.

The "road map" to peace initially calls for Israel to dismantle new outposts in the West Bank and Gaza, freeze construction in earlier settlements, and take "all necessary steps to help normalize Palestinian life." It calls for Palestinian leaders to crack down on terror groups and confiscate illegal weapons.

Each side has accused the other of foot dragging.

Sharon insisted anew that Palestinian leaders were "doing nothing to eliminate or dismantle" terror organizations. But if the current lull in violence continues and Palestinians break up such organizations, Israel will take more steps to make the lives of Palestinians easier, Sharon said.

Bush praised initial steps on both sides but added that "much hard work remains to be done by Israelis and Palestinians and by their neighbors."

Last Friday, Abbas stood alongside Bush at the same spot and rattled off a list of Palestinian demands, including the mass release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, an end to Jewish settlements and a tearing down of the barrier.

At the time, Bush told reporters it was difficult to build confidence "with a wall snaking through the West Bank."

The barrier - which Israelis call "the fence" and Palestinians call "the wall" - is a combination of electronic fences, trenches and razor coil that will cut off Jerusalem from Palestinian areas to the north and south.

Intended to block suicide bombers, the barrier has become a sticking point in negotiations over the U.S.-backed peace plan.

Bush did not repeat his earlier criticism of the barrier but said he urged the prime minister "to carefully consider all the consequences of Israel's actions as we move forward on the road to peace."

Palestinian lawmaker Saeb Erekat complained that Bush took the Israeli line. "I had hoped that Mr. Bush would stand there next to Sharon and tell him stop it, stop building the wall," Erekat said in an interview.

Palestinians complain that the project, still in its early stages, confiscates Palestinian land and makes life miserable for many West Bank residents.

"I said we shall continue building the fence. But I shall choose ways which will disturb the Palestinians as little as possible," the Israeli leader said, speaking in Hebrew. In English, Sharon said, "The security fence will continue to be built with every effort to minimize the infringement on the daily life of the Palestinian population."

Sharon also made a possible reference to the dispute in words he wrote in the White House guest book, according to a senior Palestinian official: "True friendship among allies can overcome every obstacle. No barrier can separate nations and leaders committed to peace, liberty and security."

On another touchy issue, Sharon said the two leaders had agreed there would be no release of Palestinian prisoners "with blood on their hands," those who are likely to return to terrorism if released.

Abbas last week demanded the release of most of the 7,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

In a gesture of accommodation ahead of Sharon's visit, Israel released several hundred Palestinian militants and removed 10 major West Bank checkpoints and other barriers to Palestinian travel.

The two leaders also discussed the issue of settlements. The road map requires Israel to halt "settlement activity" at nearly 150 older Jewish settlements and to take down small outposts built since March 2001.

"Unauthorized outposts will be removed as required in a law-abiding country," Sharon said.

Sharon praised Bush for toppling the government of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and said he agreed with Bush's recent criticism of Syria and Iran for continuing to harbor terrorists. "It must be made clear to these countries that their evil deeds cannot continue. There can be no compromise with terror and evil," Sharon said.

Bush reiterated his administration's strong support for Israel.

"America is firmly committed to the security of Israel as a Jewish state, and we are firmly committed to the safety of the Israeli people. As we head down the road to peace, my commitment to the security of Israel is unshakable, as is the enduring friendship of our countries," he said.

Bush's use of the term "Jewish state" was seen by Israelis as backing their objection to Palestinian demands that descendants of refugees who left their homes in 1948 when Israel was created be allowed to return.

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On the Net:

State Department's Near East desk: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/

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