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UN votes to set up Palestinian office for barrier damages

An Israeli police officer climbs over a fence during a demonstration against Israel's separation barrier at the village of Bilin, near the West Bank town of Ramallah, on Friday. PHOTO: AP

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to establish an office to register Palestinian claims for damage stemming from Israel's construction of a barrier in the West Bank which has divided villages and destroyed orchards, olive groves and homes.

Israel and the US strongly opposed the creation of the new office, which will be based in Vienna, Austria, but the world body on Friday approved a resolution to set it up by a vote of 162-7 with seven abstentions.

Suicide bombers

Israel began building the barrier in 2002 to stop Palestinian suicide bombers who were infiltrating unhindered from the West Bank. But Palestinians say it is an attempt to grab their land before final peace negotiations and has made travel exceedingly difficult.

The General Assembly resolution said the register was being established to comply with an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice in July 2004 that found the barrier illegal.

The court judgement said "Israel is under an obligation to make reparations for all damage caused by the construction."

Israel rejected the advisory opinion and has continued to construct the barrier -- a complex of walls, fences, trenches, barbed wire and electronic devices -- which is expected to run about 680km when it is completed.

The resolution authorizes the new office -- comprising a board, an executive director and a small staff -- to record damage from the barrier's construction. At this stage, it rules out any evaluation or assessment of the losses.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN observer, said establishing the register was just one step toward implementing the court's ruling.

"We are still insisting, and the international community is insisting, that the wall is illegal and has to be dismantled and that process has to be reversed," he said.

Land confiscated

As construction of the wall continues, Mansour said more Palestin-ian land is confiscated and homes, agricultural fields, livestock and crops destroyed.

He said the barrier has displaced thousands of Palestinians, obstructed freedom of movement and prevented access to jobs, healthcare, education, worship and an adequate standard of living.

"The accurate and thorough documentation of the damage caused is a central prerequisite for the genuine provision of reparations, including both restitution for wrongs endured and compensation," Mansour said.
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