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Revision as of 18:27, 17 November 2003 by MartinHarper (talk | contribs) (lks)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)In 2003, Israel began construction on a security barrier inside the West Bank, called the "seam zone". There is already a similar barrier inside the Gaza Strip.
Purpose
The Israeli government says the purpose of the security barrier is to prevent terrorists from entering Israeli cities, a problem which has plagued Israel since the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada. Political commentators have suggested a wide variety of other explanations.
Construction and Route
The barrier is a combination of fence, wall, various earthworks and security apparatus. As of November 2003, the barrier extends inside most of the north-western and western edges of the West Bank, sometimes close to the border and sometimes cutting deeply towards the east. In some places there are also secondary barriers. It is not known whether a decision has been made to build a barrier also on the eastern side of the main regions of Palestinian population. Depending mostly on this decision, somewhere between 15% and 45% of the West Bank will eventually be outside the barrier.
Reaction
Israeli public opinion has been very strongly in favor of the barrier, partly in the hope that it will improve security and partly in the belief (denied by the government) that the barrier marks the eventual border of a Palestinian state. Due to the latter possibility, the settler movement oppose the barrier, though this opposition has waned since it became clear the barrier would be diverted to the east of major Israeli settlements such as Ariel.
Palestinian public opinion is overwhelmingly against the barrier. A large number of Palestinians have been separated from their lands or their places of work or study and this problem will become much worse as the barriers near Jerusalem are completed. In October 2003, the region between the barrier and the border of the West Bank (the "green line") was declared a special military area. Although all Israelis and all Jews regardless of nationality can enter the region freely, Palestinians can enter only with special permits even if they are residents of one of the dozen or so Arab villages in the region. Many of the latter Arabs who tried to obtain permits were refused them.
In October 2003, a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the barrier was vetoed by the United States. One week later, a similar resolution was passed by the UN General Assembly 144-4 with 12 absentions. The resolution said the barrier was "in contradiction to international law," and demanded that Israel "stop and reverse" its construction. Israel called the resolution a "farce".
Arabic news organisations such as Al-Jazeera call the barrier a separation wall or an apartheid wall.
See also
Other ancient and modern walls
Berlin wall, Fortress Europe, Great Wall of China, Hadrian's Wall, Maginot Line, Parallel 48 , Rio Grande, Strait of Gibraltar