US on Israeli Supreme Court decision on the seperation wall

Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman for the US Department Of State was asked "within the last day the Israeli Supreme Court has just issued a ruling unanimously, which says that the barrier wall on the West Bank must be rerouted to help the Palestinians gain some control over their lives.Ê But also in the Gaza strip there's been other anarchy and apparently Hamas has blown a hole in the wall -- the fence there.Ê And have you spoken to President Mubarek as far Egyptian troops to gain control there?"

Ereli said "On the fence, I don't have any comment on the Israeli Supreme Court decision.Ê I think you know our position on the barrier, which is that obviously Israel has a right to defend itself and to take measures to protect its citizens.Ê Our concerns are with the route of the fence and to ensure that it isn't built in a way that prejudges borders, confiscates Palestinian property or imposes further hardship on the Palestinian people.Ê So I think that answers your first question."

He added "about the situation in Gaza, obviously we believe it's important for the Palestinian Authority to establish control in Gaza where we've been viewing the events there and following them closely. I think it's worthwhile to note that the Israelis and the Egyptians and Palestinians are all speaking to one another.Ê They are working to coordinate security actions and to act, to establish order.Ê We, for our part, continue our efforts to support them in that.Ê General Ward is obviously very directly involved.Ê The Secretary spoke with President Abbas today to further discuss this issue.Ê So I think this is something that the parties are seized with.Ê The parties recognize they need to work and act decisively and they've been moving in that direction."

Ereli was asked "she's spoken with Abbas, but how about Egypt?"

Ereli said "We've had discussions -- obviously, we've had discussions with the Egyptians, not necessarily at the Secretary level, but at senior levels and the Egyptians are taking steps to provide the security that was anticipated for the Rafah border crossing...I think (security) it's -- it was a question of coordination and that is what they are working on..The parties are taking the steps that they need to take.Ê Obviously, it's not -- it's not something that begins and ends on one day.Ê This is a process.Ê This is a process that takes continual -- good communication, planning and continued coordination.Ê That's what we're keen to see operate effectively.Ê They are doing that.Ê It's something that, obviously, has to be continued to be followed up on.Ê And that's why -- that's the importance of General Ward's presence there, it's the importance of our continued engagement.Ê But most importantly, it's something that, again, the Palestinians have begun talking to the Israelis and Egyptians to make sure that they are effectively exercising the kind of control that they need to."