Israel seizes land to extend security fence around Maaleh Adumim
By Israel Insider staff and partners August 24, 2005
Security barrier around Maaleh Adumim
Israel has issued orders to expropriate Arab-owned land to build a section of its separation barrier around the largest Jewish settlement east of Jerusalem, the Justice Ministry said Wednesday.
The controversial barrier will cut 10 miles into the West Bank to include land around Maaleh Adumim just east of Jerusalem, Haaretz reported. A total of 400 acres are to be seized from local Palestinians for this section of the barrier, the newspaper said.
The ministry wasn't immediately available for comment on these details.
The section of barrier around Maaleh Adumim is part of a 425-mile line of electrified fences, concrete walls, trenches and barbed wire that Israel is building to keep suicide bombers out of the country.
Palestinians claim the barrier is meant to take control of disputed land which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and the Palestinians want for a future state.
The United States opposes the construction of the barrier on disputed land.
About 30,000 people live in Maaleh Adumim. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he expects his just-completed evacuation of 25 community in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank would cement Israel's hold on Maaleh Adumim and other major blocs of Jewish settlement.
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