<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Israel changes route of barrier


</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Construction work is far advanced on the northern section

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->Israel will move a planned stretch of its controversial barrier in the West Bank closer to Israel, says Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.

In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the current route would cause too much hardship to Palestinians.

It will now run along the 1967 ceasefire line dividing Israel and the West Bank.

Israel says the barrier is aimed at preventing suicide bombers but Palestinians regard it as a land grab.

Under the original plan, the southern section of the barrier would have gone deep into the West Bank, to include several Jewish settlements near the town of Hebron.

Mr Mofaz said the settlements would now be encircled with separate fences.

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Guide to the route and structure of the West Bank barrier

At-a-glance

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"We have decided to move the barrier closer to Israel following the Supreme Court decision" which called for a review of the route, Mr Mofaz said.

"As these settlements will no longer be protected by this project, it has been decided to strengthen the fences around each one of them and to build a fence along the road which connects them."

Mr Mofaz added there would be exit points for local Palestinian farmers.

The new route must still be approved by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's cabinet.

Israel has built about one-third of the barrier, mostly in the northern West Bank.

Some Israeli officials say construction of the northern section has pushed militant activity further south, and that it was becoming increasingly urgent to begin construction of the southern portion of the barrier. Construction work on that section of the barrier began at the weekend. <!-- E BO -->


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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3632678.stm