Last update - 23:51 22/02/2007 High Court: Security fence may be built on Palestinian farmland By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent

The High Court of Justice ruled Thursday that it is permissible for the Israel Defense Forces to build security fences around West Bank settlements, even if the barriers cut into agricultural land owned by Palestinians.

Justices Dorit Beinisch, Eliezer Rivlin and Edmond Levi rejected a petition submitted two years ago by ten Palestinian residents of the West Bank opposing the construction of security fences surrounding adjacent settlement land.

The petition was submitted by the council heads of the villages of Beit Lid, Ramin, Shufa and al-Labad against the separation fence path planned near their villages, which was intended to surround the settlements of Avnei Hefetz and Einav Hashomron.

The fence surrounding Avnei Hefetz was built at a distance of 1.5 kilometers from residential homes, and was originally planned to surround an illegal outpost east of the settlement. Last year, the court forbade construction of the fence around the illegal outpost.

The justices decided to reject the petition after a section of the fence's route was exchanged for an electronic security fence, which monitors Palestinian movement without presenting a physical obstacle.

"We accept the stance that the security fence and the extent of defense are necessary to provide to Avnei Hefetz and Einav the required security from terrorist infiltration and from terrorist activities," wrote Beinisch in the ruling.

After the disengagement, Einav and Avnei Hefetz became the northernmost settlements in the West Bank.