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Occupied Jerusalem: Israel will tear down a small stretch of a controversial barrier, moving it closer to its border with the occupied West Bank region, an Israeli newspaper said on Monday.
A 2.4 kilometre portion fence would be moved in response to a petition filed with Israel's high court by Palestinians from two villages, the daily Haaretz reported.
The move will allow Palestinians to recover 3,000 dunams (700 acres) of land confiscated by Israel for the barrier near the West Bank town of Qalqilya, the report said.
The change would affect only a small part of a network of fencing and cement walls that extends for a total of 405 kilometres.
An Israeli government spokesman declined to comment specifically on the report, but said the barrier "was always subject to changes" in deference to court rulings.
The newspaper added that the Israeli Defence Ministry told the court it would loop the barrier further from two villages near Qalqilya, restoring most of the land they had lost.
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