Israel

This just in! The High Court in Eretz Yisrael has said that the government can resume construction of the security fence in Yerushalayim.

The High Court of Justice ruled Tuesday that the government can partially resume construction of a segment of the West Bank separation fence between northwest Jerusalem and Modi'in.

The court had earlier issued an interim injunction freezing the construction until it reached a decision on a petition submitted by residents of Biddu and Beit Surik, villages near the planned route.

But on Tuesday the court canceled much of the injunction, allowing construction to continue in parts of the segment in question. However, the justices also said the petitioners may still contest sections of the fence route that are particularly close to the villages.

The court gave the petitioners three days to appeal to the Civilian Administration and register their opposition to state confiscation of their land. A week after the administration issues its response, the state is allowed to carry out infrastructure work, as long as it is reversible, the court ruled.

Chief Justice Aharon Barak and Justices Mishael Cheshin and Dorit Beinish said if the state does build a section of the fence that is later ruled illegal, the state must fully compensate the petitioners.

This all comes right after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed to a cease-fire truce with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.

The militant group Hamas threw up an immediate roadblock, saying it was waiting to hear from Abbas and to see what Israel would do before committing to a halt in violence.

Yet the verbal cease-fire pledge and the sight of Abbas and Sharon grinning broadly as they shook hands across a summit table were the clearest signs yet of a new life for the peace process after Arafat's death in November and Abbas' election in January.

One Israeli official, Gideon Meir, said "there was a great atmosphere in the talks ... smiles and joking." In another sign the talks went well, Egypt and Jordan announced they would return their ambassadors to Israel after a four-year absence — possibly within days.

Emerging from private talks, Sharon promised that the Israeli military would stop attacks on Palestinians, and Abbas promised a halt in militant attacks on Israelis. LINK