Israel to build wall deep inside West Bank that ‘accelerates annexation’

The Israeli army is preparing to erect a new separation wall deep inside the occupied West Bank, a move experts warn will accelerate de facto annexation. The planned 22km barrier in the northern Jordan Valley will sever links between Palestinian communities and cut farming and herding families off from their land. It will also encircle the herding community of Khirbet Yarza, isolating its residents who depend on livestock. The Israeli military justifies the wall as a security measure to prevent weapons smuggling and protect settlers, and plans to demolish dozens of Palestinian structures in its path.