Concern that the large central Shomron town of Kedumim - one of the oldest Jewish communities in Yesha - would end up on the "wrong" side of the partition fence has been allayed. The security establishment is planning to recommend that Kedumim, as well as Ariel and Emanuel, be included on the western side of the partition, together with most of pre-1967 Israel. The controversial fence was designed as a buffer to keep terrorists from crossing from PA-controlled areas into Jewish areas. Its opponents say that terrorists can always find ways to get around a physical barrier, and that the fence will serve as a de-facto border for a PLO state that Prime Minister Sharon has announced plans to establish.
It was reported today that another length of fence is being planned on the eastern side of the PA-controlled areas, to separate them from the Jordan Valley.
Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union) commented on this matter in a talk with Arutz-7 today: "We are against the whole idea of a partition. [However,] what will determine whether a PA state will arise is not a fence, but rather whether the PA areas have territorial contiguity. We once presented a plan that would prevent such contiguity, and would establish four local Arab administrations in separate areas… There is actually no reason to grant contiguity between Judea and Gaza, as they were never connected in the past…"
Lieberman said that his party constantly makes its position against a partition wall clear, "but once the Yesha Council accepted it and began discussing its operational details - saying that it should be built here, not there, etc. - it's hard for us to overtake the Yesha Council from the right… If you're asking whether we'll quit the government because of this, the answer is no. We'll do everything that we can from within to thwart this idea, and we will try to influence the government decisions on this matter."
It was reported today that another length of fence is being planned on the eastern side of the PA-controlled areas, to separate them from the Jordan Valley.
Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman (National Union) commented on this matter in a talk with Arutz-7 today: "We are against the whole idea of a partition. [However,] what will determine whether a PA state will arise is not a fence, but rather whether the PA areas have territorial contiguity. We once presented a plan that would prevent such contiguity, and would establish four local Arab administrations in separate areas… There is actually no reason to grant contiguity between Judea and Gaza, as they were never connected in the past…"
Lieberman said that his party constantly makes its position against a partition wall clear, "but once the Yesha Council accepted it and began discussing its operational details - saying that it should be built here, not there, etc. - it's hard for us to overtake the Yesha Council from the right… If you're asking whether we'll quit the government because of this, the answer is no. We'll do everything that we can from within to thwart this idea, and we will try to influence the government decisions on this matter."