MIDDLE EAST: The construction of a security barrier by the Israelis dividing Palestinian and Israeli communities will be a recipe for further conflict, according to the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr Ahmed Korei.
The warning was issued in Dublin yesterday following a meeting between Mr Korei and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen. "In this century, the world is moving towards globalisation and we are seeing the construction of a most dangerous wall, more dangerous than the Berlin Wall, separating the peoples," Mr Korei said.
The controversial barrier - part wall, part fence - is being challenged by two Israeli human rights groups before Israel's Supreme Court, while the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is also reviewing the issue. Mr Korei said the two-hour meeting with the Taoiseach had been "very constructive".
Though the Palestinians are not against Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon's recently-announced plans "to evacuate" Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip, Mr Korei said they wanted negotiations, rather than unilateral actions.
He warned: "We want to reach agreement with the Israeli people. We want to negotiate an agreement because we want a real peace. We don't want to receive what they want to decide."
The Taoiseach said he wanted both the Israelis and the Palestinians to take "modest steps" to improve the atmosphere before talks take place between Mr Sharon and Mr Korei.
The Government opposed the barrier and had told the ICJ. "We believe the construction of the barrier to be illegal. Violence has no useful role. We need to advance the security of ordinary Israelis and bring forward the day when Palestinians can have an independent state."
