The separation barrier Israel is building along the West Bank will not mark the definitive border of an eventual Palestinian state, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview published in Cairo Saturday. Asked by state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper if the barrier would be the definitive border, Sharon replied: "No. The real border will be established once total calm is restored, which will allow us to move toward the (Middle East peace) roadmap." The internationally drafted roadmap foresees an independent Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel. "It is not the wall that demarcates the border," Sharon added. The wall's "only objective is to prevent terrorist operations inside Israel. We consider that the construction of the wall has stopped numerous terrorist operations." Asked whether the barrier would ever be pulled down, Sharon said: "We will study the matter."
| If you don't have terrorism, you don't need the wall. But I have the feeling it'll be a while before they don't need the wall. |