Israeli government to build military barrier south of Jerusalem

The Israeli government has approved a project to set up a separation barrier in Battir village, south of occupied Jerusalem, Israeli sources have revealed.

According to the sources the Israeli cabinet decided to approve the construction of the barrier at its Sunday meeting.

Head of the Israeli High Court Asher Gronis called for the government to review the political consequences of the barrier, which will be built on ancient Palestinian agricultural strips of land. UNICEF announced the area to be a global heritage site.

The Israeli defence ministry claimed that the barrier would not touch these strips of land, but it said that Palestinian environmental activists and institutions strongly reject the barrier.