On January 13, 2005, Israel's High Court of Justice issued a temporary injunction halting preparations for the construction of a security fence in the West Bank. The injunction was issued after residents of the Palestinian village of Beit Sourik petitioned the court that the route of the fence did not conform with boundaries dictated by a June 2004 ruling from the High Court and an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion. Under international pressure, Israel agreed to reexamine Palestinian land seizures. However, Israeli officials subsequently recommended rejecting the ICJ's ruling in February 2005. Following other legal challenges by Palestinian residents, Israel made further changes to the route in 2006. The separation barrier is largely completed and stretches 710 kilometers. Despite widespread criticism over the fences, Israel announced plans to build similar security fences along its borders in January 2010.

Israeli coat of arms

Learn more about Israel from the JURIST news archive and read commentary on the Israeli security fence from JURIST Guest Columnist Ilan Pappe in Hotline.

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