A separation barrier being built by Israel in the West Bank, the occupied Palestinian territory, will further isolate the village of al-Wallaja from the outside world, Palestinians say.<br /><br />The Hajajleh family, whose backyard is already bound by an electronic fence, is among those who will be cut off from relatives in al-Wallaja.<br /><br />So Israel is building him an $800,000 personal tunnel as the family's only connection to the village.<br /><br />Palestinians say the move is not out of goodwill - but is part of a grander government plan to squeeze them out of another huge area of the West Bank.<br /><br />Jad Isaac, a researcher, says al-Wallaja is standing in the way of Israel's long-term plan to complete a ring of Jewish settlements that would surround the neighbouring city of Bethlehem.<br /><br />The tunnels would eventually become the village's only means of access to the outside world, he says.<br /><br />Tom Ackerman reports from the West Bank.
