The Israeli military has begun rerouting a disputed section of its West Bank security barrier, marking a victory for Palestinians who fought for years to win back access to their land, officials said Thursday.
The move comes two years after the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the fence improperly cut through the Palestinian village of Bilin in order to enlarge a nearby Israeli settlement. Under the new route, about 170 acres of agricultural land will be accessible again to Palestinian owners. Bilin has long been a focal point of Palestinian opposition to Israel's planned 800-kilometre barrier. |