June 30, 2003	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 29,1424

AL QUDS, June 29: US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice on Sunday criticised the Israeli government’s continued construction of a security fence between Israel and the West Bank, a government source said.

Speaking after a meeting with Israeli ministers in Al Quds, Rice said Washington saw the construction of the fence as “problematic” because it would “create a fait accompli” and could be perceived as the precursor to an international border between the two territories.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the fence “had no political significance” and that it was only being built as a response to “security concerns”.

Sharon stressed he would not back down on the issue, even if it caused a disagreement with Washington.

Israel began building its 350-kilometre security fence in June last year in a bid to keep Palestinians from entering the Jewish state to carry out attacks like suicide bombings.

Construction of the fence, which roughly follows the Green Line marking the armistice lines at the end of the 1967 war, was criticised by the UN Human Rights Commission, which said it amounted to de facto annexation of nearly seven percent of West Bank land.

But Israel defends construction of the fence, the first 145 kilometres of which is due to be completed next month, as an effective measure to stop Palestinian attackers.

“We are in favour of continuing construction of the fence, not to create a border but because it is an effective way of stopping terrorist infiltrations,” the centrist Justice Minister Tommy Lapid said after meeting Rice.

After meeting with Sharon, Rice met with members of the security cabinet, including Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom and Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rice, who arrived in the region Saturday for a lightning visit aimed at boosting the “roadmap” for peace, was also expected to meet the entire Israeli cabinet on Sunday.

She met earlier Sunday with Palestinian finance minister Salam Fayad and Sharon’s top aide Dov Weisglass to discuss “civilian issues”, the radio reported.

Rice met with Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas in the West Bank town of Jericho on Saturday evening and extended an official White House invitation to the moderate premier.—AFP