The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared a PowerPoint presentation explaining the need for Israel's counter-terrorism partition fence. It can be seen at "http://securityfence.mfa.gov.il/mfm/Data/49058.pps".
Among the countries who have sent delegations to The Hague to speak out against Israel and its self-defense measures are several whose civil rights performance leaves something to be desired. In Algeria, for instance, close to 100 people are killed each month in clashes with government forces, while Malaysia is said by Amnesty International to treat its opposition with especial brutality. Other countries protesting Israel's right to self-defense at the International Court of Justice are Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Indonesia, and Cuba.
Israel has begun dismantling an 8-kilometer (5-mile) section of the partition that was built east of Baka El-Sharkiye, in northwestern Shomron. The cost of the "change of heart" is estimated at 30 million shekels. The fence to be dismantled was originally built in consideration of the fact that Baka El-Sharkiye is essentially an extension of the Israeli-Arab town of Baka El-Garbiye. The new fence, however, will once again separate between the two towns, in accordance with the demands of many anti-partition elements. Both Foreign Minister Shalom and Finance Minister Netanyahu had criticism today of the timing of today's move, just a day before the hearing in The Hague. "It looks as if we're a criminal trying to cover up for a crime," Netanyahu said.
Among the countries who have sent delegations to The Hague to speak out against Israel and its self-defense measures are several whose civil rights performance leaves something to be desired. In Algeria, for instance, close to 100 people are killed each month in clashes with government forces, while Malaysia is said by Amnesty International to treat its opposition with especial brutality. Other countries protesting Israel's right to self-defense at the International Court of Justice are Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Indonesia, and Cuba.
Israel has begun dismantling an 8-kilometer (5-mile) section of the partition that was built east of Baka El-Sharkiye, in northwestern Shomron. The cost of the "change of heart" is estimated at 30 million shekels. The fence to be dismantled was originally built in consideration of the fact that Baka El-Sharkiye is essentially an extension of the Israeli-Arab town of Baka El-Garbiye. The new fence, however, will once again separate between the two towns, in accordance with the demands of many anti-partition elements. Both Foreign Minister Shalom and Finance Minister Netanyahu had criticism today of the timing of today's move, just a day before the hearing in The Hague. "It looks as if we're a criminal trying to cover up for a crime," Netanyahu said.