Palestinian PM seeks US intervention

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie, with his back to a wall Israel has built inside the West Bank, said yesterday the barrier was destroying peace efforts and called for US intervention.

Israel says the barrier, a mix of fences and walls that encroach on West Bank land by varying amounts along the 150 kilometres built so far, is meant to keep out suicide bombers.

Palestinians call it an effort to annex or fragment occupied land, and Mr Qurie visited a section that all but encircles the Palestinian town of Qalqilya to dramatise their case against it.

"From the edge of this racist separation wall, I appeal to the United States, to President George W. Bush, Europe and the United Nations to (understand) that this leaves no chance for the establishment of a Palestinian state," he said in the shadow of the 10-metre-high barrier.

"I am not saying this emotionally. I am trying to attract attention to what they (Israel) are trying to do through this wall. They are drawing a picture of an imposed solution on the ground," said Mr Qurie, who took office in November.

The barrier's serpentine course has separated Palestinian farmers from their fields and crippled trade between villages and market towns like Qalqilya, where 40,000 people are ringed by concrete except for one gap with an Israeli army checkpoint.

"We want the United States... to tell Israel to stop building the wall that is destroying everything. It is not only an obstacle to peace, the wall destroys peace," he said.