Israel begins to fence Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (AP) - A fence going up around Jerusalem is meant to stop Palestinian bombers, an Israeli Cabinet Minister said today, but some Israelis are complaining it amounts to redividing the city.
The decision to build the fence of thick coils of wire around Jerusalem - 9 feet high at points - came after repeated Palestinian suicide bombing attacks in the Jewish section of the city.

Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza are banned from entering Jerusalem, but Palestinians, most looking for work, take roundabout routes to avoid roadblocks. Bombers and other attackers also find entrance easy.

Public Security Minister Uzi Landau, visiting the fence, defended it against critics.

"We are putting here some obstacles in order to facilitate the ability of our security forces to intercept suicide bombers,'' Landau said. "Nobody's speaking here about a border.''

So far, sections of five miles of the fence have been built, and officials plan to put fencing and other barriers around the 12-mile perimeter of the city. Israel hopes to complete the fence within the next six months, said David Tzur, a police commander overseeing the fence plan.