|
|
| By: Israel Insider staff and partners |
| Published: May 17, 2006 |
| |
Israel will complete construction of its security barrier with Judea and Samaria only in 2008, about two years later than originally planned, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
Israel had increased the pace of construction of the string of walls and fences in recent months but court cases have held the building in several places.
Of the 760 kilometer (472 mile)-long barrier, 335 kilometers (208 miles) are operational, the defense ministry said in a statement. During 2007, another 150 kilometers (93 miles) will be completed, it said.
In the Jerusalem area, where the barrier will be about 88 kilometers (55 miles) long, 33 kilometers (21 miles) are operational and the construction of 42 kilometers (26 miles) is held up by appeals to Israeli courts, the ministry said.
Israel had originally planned to complete the barrier by the end of this year. Construction had been sped up in recent months after suicide bombings and the victory of the anti-Israeli Hamas group in Palestinian elections in January.
Palestinians fear the barrier, which dips deep into Judea and Samaria at points, will be the final border. The Palestinians hope to establish a state in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, areas Israel captured in 1967.
AP contributed to this report. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
