West Bank barrier route condemned

Israel's Justice Minister called yesterday for the route of a controversial West Bank barrier to be reconsidered, lest it draw sanctions because it cuts into occupied land.

Yosef Lapid spoke as Arab nations pitched in with the Palestinians to prepare a case against the barrier for hearings in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

"There is a very serious risk the World Court will rule against us ... and this is liable to prompt the General Assembly into imposing all sorts of sanctions against us," Lapid said. "We must review the fence's routing."

The barrier deviates from the West Bank boundary and in places cuts into occupied land to enclose Jewish settlements.