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CNN Live At Daybreak
More Controversy Over Barrier Fence
Aired February 23, 2004 - 05:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: What's the saying, fences make for good neighbors? Perhaps not in the Middle East. Definitely not in the Middle East. Israel calls the barrier under construction near its border with the West Bank a security barrier. Palestinians call it a land grab. The issue is before the World Court today.
So live now to our Ben Wedeman along that controversial barrier in the Palestinian territory -- good morning, Ben. BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Actually, right now we're in Baq al Barbiya (ph), which is an Arab-Israeli town. But it's an Arab-Israeli town that's essentially been cut off from their families and friends on the other side of this barrier. Just on the other side of this barrier is the Palestinian West Bank village of Neslab-Asah (ph), before a very town with a market that people from both sides of the fence went to.
But the fence has gone up. In this area, in fact, it's a wall. Houses had to be demolished along it to build this wall. In this area it's a wall. But by and large it's a fence that divides Palestinians from Israelis. Until now, 180 kilometers have been built already. That's just over 100 miles. But eventually it's going to stretch to more than 450 miles.
Now, as you can see, the market town is no longer much of a market anymore, just people standing around. And this obviously has caused a good deal of unhappiness among Palestinians, who say that it's a land grab. They call the wall or the fence the apartheid wall. The Israelis, of course, call it the terrorism prevention fence. And today the Palestinians are expected to be holding massive demonstrations along the wall. Israel has put its security forces on high alert, especially after yesterday's attack in Jerusalem, a suicide bombing that left eight people dead and for many Israelis was yet another reason why they believe they must have this fence, this barrier, in place -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ben Wedeman live in the Palestinian territories this morning.
Now we want to take you live to the Netherlands, the Hague, and the international court where this issue is now before a 15 judge panel.
John Vause is there.
Tell us about it -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, the Palestinian legal team is in the middle of its opening arguments right now. But already they've said that Israel's barrier will leave thousands of Palestinians in enclaves, and on its current path, will leave them with only half of the West Bank, and that will make, according to this Palestinian legal team, a two state solution practically impossible.
In their opening arguments, the Palestinians have said that they hope that this court will issue an advisory opinion, which is non- binding, similar to the one in 1971 against South Africa and its occupation of Namibia. The International Court of Justice said that occupation was illegal. That led to international sanctions and then eventually Namibia's independence.
Now, Israel is not represented at this court today. It made a written submission last month denying that this court has authority to hear this case. But still the Israelis know that there is a P.R. battle to be had here. There is the court of public opinion to be won. They've got a thousand or so Israeli protesters or pro-Israeli protesters who have turned up here carrying photos of 927 Israeli victims of terrorist attacks since the start of the intifada in September 2000. They've got another 2,000 Christians who are pro- Israeli, as well.
And the group ZAKA, who has the gruesome job of collecting remains from the site of suicide bombings, have actually brought in a bus, Bus Number 19, which was blown up on January 29 early in the morning, which left 11 people dead, 50 wounded. That bus is here outside the court, as well. The Israelis may not be inside the court, but they are certainly outside the court, knowing that they must win public opinion -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And that's what we're seeing in those pictures, those Israeli protesters outside of the court.
This international court, this decision, as you said, it's more of a -- it's more to put pressure on Israel than anything else. I mean the court can't order the barrier be taken down, right?
VAUSE: That's correct, Carol.
This is a non-binding advisory opinion only. And it's because the Israelis have refused to come here, have refused to accept the court's authority in this manner that the court can only issue an advisory opinion. But it certainly could go a long way against the Israelis and they know that this is very much a public opinion battle which they must win if they're not here in the court itself.
COSTELLO: John Vause live this morning, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 23, 2004 - 05:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: What's the saying, fences make for good neighbors? Perhaps not in the Middle East. Definitely not in the Middle East. Israel calls the barrier under construction near its border with the West Bank a security barrier. Palestinians call it a land grab. The issue is before the World Court today.
So live now to our Ben Wedeman along that controversial barrier in the Palestinian territory -- good morning, Ben. BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Actually, right now we're in Baq al Barbiya (ph), which is an Arab-Israeli town. But it's an Arab-Israeli town that's essentially been cut off from their families and friends on the other side of this barrier. Just on the other side of this barrier is the Palestinian West Bank village of Neslab-Asah (ph), before a very town with a market that people from both sides of the fence went to.
But the fence has gone up. In this area, in fact, it's a wall. Houses had to be demolished along it to build this wall. In this area it's a wall. But by and large it's a fence that divides Palestinians from Israelis. Until now, 180 kilometers have been built already. That's just over 100 miles. But eventually it's going to stretch to more than 450 miles.
Now, as you can see, the market town is no longer much of a market anymore, just people standing around. And this obviously has caused a good deal of unhappiness among Palestinians, who say that it's a land grab. They call the wall or the fence the apartheid wall. The Israelis, of course, call it the terrorism prevention fence. And today the Palestinians are expected to be holding massive demonstrations along the wall. Israel has put its security forces on high alert, especially after yesterday's attack in Jerusalem, a suicide bombing that left eight people dead and for many Israelis was yet another reason why they believe they must have this fence, this barrier, in place -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ben Wedeman live in the Palestinian territories this morning.
Now we want to take you live to the Netherlands, the Hague, and the international court where this issue is now before a 15 judge panel.
John Vause is there.
Tell us about it -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, the Palestinian legal team is in the middle of its opening arguments right now. But already they've said that Israel's barrier will leave thousands of Palestinians in enclaves, and on its current path, will leave them with only half of the West Bank, and that will make, according to this Palestinian legal team, a two state solution practically impossible.
In their opening arguments, the Palestinians have said that they hope that this court will issue an advisory opinion, which is non- binding, similar to the one in 1971 against South Africa and its occupation of Namibia. The International Court of Justice said that occupation was illegal. That led to international sanctions and then eventually Namibia's independence.
Now, Israel is not represented at this court today. It made a written submission last month denying that this court has authority to hear this case. But still the Israelis know that there is a P.R. battle to be had here. There is the court of public opinion to be won. They've got a thousand or so Israeli protesters or pro-Israeli protesters who have turned up here carrying photos of 927 Israeli victims of terrorist attacks since the start of the intifada in September 2000. They've got another 2,000 Christians who are pro- Israeli, as well.
And the group ZAKA, who has the gruesome job of collecting remains from the site of suicide bombings, have actually brought in a bus, Bus Number 19, which was blown up on January 29 early in the morning, which left 11 people dead, 50 wounded. That bus is here outside the court, as well. The Israelis may not be inside the court, but they are certainly outside the court, knowing that they must win public opinion -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And that's what we're seeing in those pictures, those Israeli protesters outside of the court.
This international court, this decision, as you said, it's more of a -- it's more to put pressure on Israel than anything else. I mean the court can't order the barrier be taken down, right?
VAUSE: That's correct, Carol.
This is a non-binding advisory opinion only. And it's because the Israelis have refused to come here, have refused to accept the court's authority in this manner that the court can only issue an advisory opinion. But it certainly could go a long way against the Israelis and they know that this is very much a public opinion battle which they must win if they're not here in the court itself.
COSTELLO: John Vause live this morning, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
