Jordan Valley residents are incensed at what they call the government's "cave-in" to American pressure - a surrender that leaves the Jordan Valley communities on the "wrong" side of the planned counter-terrorism partition wall/fence.
The fence was originally planned to enclose only the predominantly-Arab populated areas, with the aim of protecting Jewish areas from terrorists. Regional Council head David Levy said that Ariel Sharon and Sha'ul Mofaz had personally promised him that the fence would pass near the Alon Highway, on the western side of the Jordan Valley, such that the Jewish towns would be separated from the Arab villages of the Shomron. "But they surrendered to the Americans and placed the fence to our east," Levy said. He also stated that the residents would fight the decision. Security experts have long said that the Jordan Valley is critical to Israel's defense.
It was announced today that construction on the fence would be stopped in the Jerusalem and Gilboa areas, for lack of funding. The relevant Knesset subcommittee, at the initiative of MK Sha'ul Yahalom, refused to approve further funding yesterday. The reasons: complete maps were not presented, and the fear that Maaleh Adumim and Ariel would not be protected by the wall.
The fence was originally planned to enclose only the predominantly-Arab populated areas, with the aim of protecting Jewish areas from terrorists. Regional Council head David Levy said that Ariel Sharon and Sha'ul Mofaz had personally promised him that the fence would pass near the Alon Highway, on the western side of the Jordan Valley, such that the Jewish towns would be separated from the Arab villages of the Shomron. "But they surrendered to the Americans and placed the fence to our east," Levy said. He also stated that the residents would fight the decision. Security experts have long said that the Jordan Valley is critical to Israel's defense.
It was announced today that construction on the fence would be stopped in the Jerusalem and Gilboa areas, for lack of funding. The relevant Knesset subcommittee, at the initiative of MK Sha'ul Yahalom, refused to approve further funding yesterday. The reasons: complete maps were not presented, and the fear that Maaleh Adumim and Ariel would not be protected by the wall.