Israel's
Security Fence and Wall:
Security Measure or Obstacle to Peace?
At
the moment hundreds of bulldozers and
earthmovers are carrying out the largest
national project in Israeli history.
An immense complex of electric fences,
walls, patrol roads and trenches are
being built in most part deep inside
the occupied territories. To the Israeli
public and to the U.S administration
this is justified as a "Separation
Barrier" or "Security Fence"
- However the fence and wall will not
achieve separation nor security.
SEPARATION?
If the intention truly was to separate
Israelis and Palestinians then the fence
and wall would be built on the 1967
border separating the people. Instead
the fence zig zags through the west
bank and will end up being 3.5 times
longer than the 1967 border . As a Result
there will be actually be more points
of friction between Israelis and Palestinians.
SECURITY?
The fence and wall as currently planned
will leave an estimated 400,000 Palestinians
on the "Israeli" side of the
fence - Will this bring more security
to Israelis?
According to Israeli Military Experts
the path of the fence and wall is much
more difficult and expensive to defend
than if it ran along the 1967 Borders.
THE
MAP TELLS THE STORY
Even the briefest look at route of the
fence ( see
detailed map ) suggests that this
is more of a unilateral redrawing of
borders than a genuine security measure.
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The
wall in East Jerusalem is 32-36
feet tall. (Photos: AP) |
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The
wall is built right through the
middle of Palestinian neighborhoods,
leaving tens of thousands on the
"Israeli" side with
no access to Palestinian services
such as hospitals, schools or
even cemeteries. (Photos: AP)
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The 32 foot high
Wall on the western side of the city
of Qalqilya. A city of 40,000 is now
completely
encricled by Walls and Fences. See
detailed map of Qalqilya region.
Current
plans envision two barriers, one running
to the east of the 1967 Green Line and
another to the west of the Jordan Valley.
This route has little to do with protecting
Israelis living inside Israel and everything
to do with the demands of settlers –
settlers whose fate is to be negotiated
as a final status issue, not an issue
to be predetermined by Israeli actions
on the ground.
In
order to put more settlements on the
Israeli side of the fence, the Sharon
Governement is routing security the
barrier to reach far into the West Bank,
creating indefensible corridors of Israeli
territory deep inside Palestinian areas.
Such a route is not only unsound from
a security perspective, but it will
also greatly increase the length of
the barrier, the cost of constructing
it, the number of soldiers that will
be required to patrol it, and the number
of Palestinians who will be swept inside
Israel's line of defense.
Fence between
Bethlehem and the settlement of Har
Homa.
A
route that follows the Green Line as
closely as possible represents the shortest
and most logical Israeli line of defense.
It also represents the only internationally
acceptable boundary between Israel and
the Palestinians, and the only route
that will both enhance security and
not undermine the prospects for peace.
If
the true purpose of the fence it to
create a security barrier between Israel
and the West Bank – a goal supported
by the vast majority of Israelis across
the political spectrum - then the Sharon
government should construct the barrier
along the Green Line, resisting pressure
to veer into the West Bank or to the
west of the Jordan Valley.
It
is worth noting that the security fence
that separates Israel from the Gaza
Strip – often cited as an example of
how a fence can enhance Israel's security
– runs along the recognized pre-1967
border.
Recent
Articles and Photos:
To
get involved with the JVP committee
developing a public outreach campaign
on this issue, contact: info@jewishvoiceforpeace.org
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