WORLD COURT Jordan: Israel's barrier poses threat

Israel and the U.S. were among those who boycotted the proceedings.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- Jordan voiced concern to the world court today that Israel's separation barrier could destabilize the kingdom. Israel's prime minister, meanwhile, called the hearings a "campaign of hypocrisy."
"With the exception of the Palestinians themselves, we feel we Jordanians are the ones who could be most affected by Israel's decision to place the wall where it has and where it intends to do so in the future," Prince Zeid Al Hussein, head of the Jordanian delegation, told the International Court of Justice on the second day of the hearings.
Jordan fears the barrier will make life so hard for Palestinians that they will flee the West Bank into the neighboring kingdom, straining its resources and upsetting a delicate demographic balance.
Tensions rise
The hearings have raised tensions between Israel and Jordan, which signed a peace agreement in 1994. Since then, Israel has benefited from stability along the lengthy border. For Jordan, the treaty has removed the threat of a powerful military adversary and brought important economic gains.
The court also heard presentations by Belize, Cuba and Indonesia -- the world's largest Muslim country -- which accused Israel of violating international law governing occupations.
Israel, which says the barrier is necessary for self-defense, is not participating in the hearings. It says the dispute is a matter for negotiations and has questioned the fairness of the court.
In an interview published today in the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon denounced the hearings as "a campaign of hypocrisy."
"What is happening at The Hague is an attempt to deny Israel the right to defend itself," Sharon told the newspaper. "We will not give in. Israel will build the security fence and complete it."
Suicide bombing
Sharon noted that the hearings started just one day after a suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded dozens of others on a Jerusalem bus. He dismissed a condemnation of the attack by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, also known as Abu Ala, who said the bombing hurt the Palestinian case in The Hague.
"The government of Abu Ala is a government of murder and lies," Sharon said. "With such a government it is impossible to reach any agreement."
Addressing the court, Al Hussein called the suicide bombings "horrific." But he also said they must be seen in the context of Israel's four-decade occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, which he called "dominating ... and degrading" to the Palestinian population.
The hearings opened Monday with a three-hour presentation by the Palestinians urging the 15-judge panel to take a firm stand against the contentious barrier, a series of walls, fences, razor wire and trenches.
As the arguments continued today, it became apparent that participants hoped to put Israel's 37-year occupation -- not just the barrier -- on trial.
"The plan stretches for the most part well within the occupied territory," said Sir Arthur Watts, counsel for the Jordanians. "This wall is not primarily about the defense of Israel's territory."
He said existing and proposed sections of the barrier are meant to connect Israel proper with its settlements in the West Bank. Israel has built about one-quarter of the barrier.
Israel boycotted the proceedings, as did the United States and the European countries despite their criticism of the barrier.
Victims' relatives
Outside the Peace Palace today, several dozen Israeli relatives of suicide bombing victims held prayers and wept as they told the stories of their loved ones and clutched their photographs.
"The court should be putting Palestinians on trial for terror," said Rabbi Avi Weiss, of the Council of Jewish Concerns.
The vigil was held to the backdrop of an Israeli bus destroyed in a suicide attack Jan. 29, when 11 people were killed. It was shipped to The Hague to illustrate the devastation that Israel says the fence is meant to prevent.
Demonstrations also continued in the West Bank for a second day, leading to clashes with Israeli soldiers in several villages.