Israeli Separation Barrier
The separation barrier Israel is building in the West Bank being built by Israel since the summer of 2002 , under the official name of " - in Hebrew (literally: or "closing security The stated purpose of this measure is to protect the Israeli population by preventing any physical "intrusion of Palestinian terrorists "in Israeli territory Names Proponents of the construction resumed the official name of "barrier" or speak of "Israeli security fence" and "seam zone" and "anti-terrorist fence" or a "wall of protection". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel has published a brochure in October 2004 in French official called the anti-terrorist fence Israel, document available from the diplomatic missions of Israel or on the Internet
The Israeli government calls these comparisons of " propaganda "or even" manipulation of history and reality. " He also rejects the term "wall" that does not represent the reality of construction on at least 95% of its path History By the 1990s, several Israeli politicians of the first rank, as Yitzhak Rabin and his Labor government , defend the idea of a physical separation from the Palestinians to avoid the multiplication of friction between the two populations. Rabin establishes a commission to discuss how to implement a barrier between Israelis and Palestinians. Following the attack on 1 June 2001 at the Dolphinarium in Tel Aviv , civil organizations in calling Israel a hermetic barrier as a solution to terrorist intrusions. The second Intifada sees increasing Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians. The government of Ariel Sharon , initially reluctant, eventually seizing the project to protect large Israeli population centers by making the hermetic Green Line of 1949 which defines the disputed territory of West Bank. It is then also to defend the route of the future separation blocks of Jewish settlements east of Jerusalem beyond the Green Line: Ariel, Gush Etzion, Emmanuel, Karnei Shomron, Givat Ze'ev, Oranit and Maale Adumim. The trail continues to evolve until the decision of 30 June 2004 the Israeli Supreme Court noted that a violation of Palestinian rights and demands the redefinition of the alignment on some thirty kilometers. It also validates the basic validity of the construction as a security measure. On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice, viewed by the UN General Assembly, establishes that in turn is a violation of international law. His path is modified several times in 2004 and 2005 at the request of the Palestinians, Israelis, Europeans and the Israeli High Court of Justice. The Vatican has demanded Israel to include churches and monasteries on the Israeli side of the fence by choosing safe . On 20 February 2005, the Israeli cabinet approves new route of the barrier. It covers 8.5% of the West Bank and 27,520 Palestinians on the Israeli side of the separation. Much of the barrier (on 95% of its total length) consists of a multi-layered protection 50 m wide, that is to say he understands on parallel paths : For the Israeli High Court of Justice , the total width of the multi-layers can reach up to 100 m in places where designers deem that the topography required . Initially, the barrier is built tough in a minority of sites representing 8 km or 4% of the course. Such a concrete building minimizes the area occupied by the ground work in these areas. The objective in these places is to prevent possible fire snipers to motorways nearby Israeli (mainly along the Trans-Israel Highway ) or in densely populated areas in Jerusalem. In these cases, the concrete walls are similar in appearance to the commonly used acoustic insulation along expressways . After construction, the concrete sections shall extend for 30 km, or 6% of the length of the barrier. Finally, observation posts held electronically or by soldiers on the Israeli side are arranged along the path. At some crossings, the gates are controlled by the IDF. Along 730 km, the route followed by the barrier is complex. The fence follows the Green Line, but penetrates deep inside the West Bank to incorporate Jewish settlements Structure of the barrier
Plot Geographic
To the north of Tulkarm
North of Tulkarem , the barrier extends to Jordan under the border with Jordan. On the eastern side, it roughly follows the Green Line. At the colony of Rehan , the barrier penetrates about 5 km inside the West Bank.
The town of Tulkarem itself is isolated from its environment through two walls on one side, a wall of separation (8 meters high), and the other a barrier called "isolation barrier" which is an extension the wall, creating a near-total isolation of the city.
Around Qalqilya
The town of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank is completely encircled by the barrier with the wall to the west. Its 50,000 residents are isolated from the West Bank and Israel has confiscated land for the construction of the barrier. A section of concrete wall 8 meters high, is built on the Green Line between the city and the trans-Israel highway nearby. The wall at this location is described by Israel as the "sniper wall" with the reason given to prevent Palestinian armed attacks against Israeli motorists and the Israeli town of Kfar Saba. The Municipality of Qalqilya suffers from not being able to sell his goods and is partially deprived of its water. The situation is described as intolerable, and some believe the city is probably doomed to wither and its inhabitants (80% of Palestinian refugees ) from.
The city is accessible by road to the east, and a tunnel constructed in September 2004 that connects the village of Habla, itself isolated by another wall.
According to the Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD), 45% of Palestinian farmland (including some of the most fertile) , , and third water wells in the city, are now within the outside the barrier, and farmers must now apply for permits from the Israeli authorities access to their lands on the other side of the fence. The Israeli Supreme Court notes the Government's statements which dismisses the accusations of de facto annexation of these wells, saying: "the construction of the fence Does not Affect The Implementation of the Water Agreements Determined In The (interim) agreement" . There are three crossing points on this portion of the barrier, intended to enable farmers to access their land crossings open 3 times a day for a total of 50 minutes although, as the NAD, they are frequently closed for long periods, causing crop losses for farmers. One of these passages was closed in August 2004 in retaliation for a suicide bombing that took place near the crossing point.
The Israeli Supreme Court ordered the government to reroute the barrier in this area to facilitate the movement of Palestinians between Qalqilya and five surrounding villages. In the same ruling, the Court rejected the argument saying that the route should be followed precisely the Green Line, on the pretext of the typology of land, sections 43 and 52 of the Hague Convention of 1907 and section 53 of the 4th Geneva Convention.
To Jerusalem and south
At the city of Jerusalem, the barrier consists of a wall 8 meters high. The wall winds through the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem, and at the boundary between the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. On these portions, the wall is located to 5 km beyond the Green Line inside the West Bank. It crosses including the neighborhoods of Abu Dis , on the Azarieh south to the road that provides access to Bethlehem. To the north, the wall runs along part of the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem, on his part annexed by Israel in the West Bank.
South of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the barrier, first at the settlement bloc of Gush Etzion , penetrates up to nearly 10 km in the West Bank. It then extends roughly along the Green Line, but does not extend to the Dead Sea, stopping at about 20 km from it.
Financial cost
According to Amos Yaron, director of the Ministry of Defense of Israel: "The wall's point of view of engineering, is the largest project ever undertaken in Israel. Every day, over 500 heavy machinery moving from one place to another of the million cubic meters of earth. Each kilometer costs about 10 million shekels, or about 2 million euros per km. So, if the project is 500 km long, one can estimate the total cost to around 5 billion shekels' (1 billion euros) , .
Objectives of the barrier
Faced with protests, the message is always the Israeli authorities that the sole purpose of the barrier is the safety of Israelis. The growing number of suicide bombings at the end of September 2000 and since the beginning of the Second Intifada justifies these security measures. The Israeli government then identifies more than 1,000 people killed in these attacks. For Israel is "more than a thousand reasons to build this fence" .
Israel also claims that the barrier can be moved, as has already been done when Israel moved fences established in other jurisdictions, and has reason to exist if there is terrorism . Moreover, the exorbitant cost of the fence (about one billion euros) suggests some that its layout is final and that Israel would be the basis for a future agreement on the delimitation of its borders with the future Palestinian state, and annexing some settlements as part of a possible land swap. This is not the opinion of the Palestinians nor the international community (UN General Assembly, International Court of Justice ), or even certain combinations of the Israeli left who consider the objective of the barrier is indeed political.
For Palestinians, the barrier is therefore an expansion of Israeli territory. The security objectives of the building would be an excuse to curry favor with the Israeli public. The barrier would not they believe a security measure but a temporary strategy to annex part of the West Bank, one containing almost all the settlers and to impose de facto borders of a future Palestinian state. It would thus push the boundaries of a hypothetical Palestinian state. The Israeli government of Ariel Sharon , who has deployed resources to implement the project, said the barrier would not prevent the route (still to be negotiated) of the future border between Israel and a future Palestinian entity independent.
As part of creating the future Palestinian state, the route of the barrier would offer Israel a tactical situation better than the green line. It would include expanding its territory at the center of the country, where its width does not exceed some ten miles away, and expand the Jerusalem corridor. Much of West Bank land located near the Green Line is now populated by Jewish settlers, Israelis argue that the Green Line is an armistice line corresponding to the issues of military balance of power between Transjordan and Israel in 1949 and not to issues of peace with the Palestinians. However, the principle of a land swap in return for the areas annexed by the barrier has been accepted by Israel in previous negotiations.
Given the stated objective of the Israeli barrier has improved the country's security and peaceful situation in the West Bank after a peak in the number of attacks in 2002, it has steadily declined since 2009 and 2010 being even years without attack in Hebrew territory. According to a report by the Israeli army in November 2010, terrorism is on the verge of disappearing from the West Bank, notably through the joint work of Israeli security and Palestinian . In parallel, the Israeli government has implemented a communication plan insisting that this latest appeasement would have to initiate an economic growth of 9% in the West Bank in 2010, often attributed to the work of Salam Fayyad , prime minister of ' PA .
Others question the coherence of the anti-Israeli terrorist because of Palestinian villages are now located west of the barrier. Some also assume, referring to the example of Plan Dalet of 1948, in preventing Palestinians who live near the fence to lead a normal life, Israel hopes to force them to leave their homes to take refuge further to the inside the West Bank.
Among the critics of the barrier, Gadi Algazi, a professor at the University of Tel Aviv (Israel), writes in Le Monde Diplomatique of November 2005 a plan to divide the West Bank into "Bantustans" . This would be in his township, strictly limited and impossible to access without passing through Israeli army checkpoints or by the barrier. Dividing literally the West Bank, Israel would be able to fully control it and prevent any organization or communication over several districts. Meron Rapoport, Israeli journalist, speaks of three districts: one in Ramallah, Jenin (northern West Bank), the second from Bethlehem to Hebron (southern West Bank) and the third around Jericho (in eastern West Bank).
Today, the route has been reviewed and this view of things seems less plausible. However, with the construction of the barrier around Jerusalem, it still seems possible that the barrier would lead one day to divide the West Bank into a northern part and southern part.
Consequences
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the construction of the separation fence has saved many lives (estimated at several hundred) and reduce the number of suicide attacks by terrorist Palestinians into Israeli territory, even if some want to explain this decrease by agreements with the Palestinian Authority. Opponents denounce the barrier to achieving human rights it represents and highlight the difficulties of travel that involves the loss of access to farmland for farmers, the partitioning of some villages and isolation or confinement of people.
On the security of Israelis
A statistical study provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Israeli construction of the "separation barrier" has reduced the number of Palestinian infiltrations and suicide bombings in Israeli territory.
Since the northern West Bank, the statistics show that:
- between April and December 2002, before construction of the barrier, 17 suicide attacks were perpetrated by militants infiltrated;
- in 2003, while the barrier was built, five suicide attacks were perpetrated by militants infiltrated.
However from the southern West Bank where the security fence had not been built:
- between April and December 2002, 10 suicide attacks were perpetrated by Palestinian infiltrators;
- In 2003, 11 suicide attacks were perpetrated by militants infiltrated.
According to the report, construction of the "security barrier" dramatically reduces the number of infiltrations, consequently reducing the number of terrorist attacks and thereby save lives.
Palestinian officials explain these figures by the change in strategy of the Palestinian movements in negotiations with the Palestinian Authority to halt attacks.
On the life of Palestinians
Many NGOs Palestinian, Israeli and international described the humanitarian impact of the barrier on Palestinian life.
- it would prevent free access to health, especially for children,
- it would cause the destruction of part of the Palestinian economy ,
- it divides families
- it would violate free access to holy sites for both Muslims and Christians in the West Bank.
The UN says in a report:
... It Is Difficult to overState The Humanitarian Impact of the Barrier. The road inside the West Bank severs Communities, people's access to services, Livelihoods and Religious and cultural amenities. In addition, Plan for the Barrier's exact route and crossing points Through It Often are not fully-Revealed Until days before construction begins. This has led to considerable anxiety about how Palestinians Amongst Their Lives Will Be Impacted future ... The Land Between The Barrier and the Green Line deriving their sacrifice part of The Most fertile in the West Bank. It is currently The Home for West Bank Palestinians living 49.400 in 38 villages and towns .
In early October 2003, the Central Command said the military area between the barrier and the Green Line on the northern section closed military zone for an indefinite period. The new guidelines state that every Palestinian over the age of 12 living in the closed area may obtain a "permanent resident" of the civil administration that will allow him to continue living in his house. Other residents of the West Bank must obtain a special permit to enter this area .
In May 2004, construction of walls and barbed wire of the fence has already led to the uprooting of 102,320 olive and citrus trees, demolished 75 acres of greenhouses and 37 km of irrigation channels. Until now, the wall-fence is established on 15,000 dunums (15 km ) of land confiscated, only a few meters from small villages or hamlets. In early 2003, in order to move a section of wall to the Green Line, a market of 63 shops had been demolished by the Israeli army in the village of Nazlat Issa, after the owners had received a notice 30 minutes before , , . In August this year, 115 additional stores were an important source of income for many communities, and 5 of 7 houses were also demolished at this place , .
Legal Point of View
International law and human rights
In October 2003, Arab countries have decided to submit the issue of the wall to the UN General Assembly. This meeting adopted 21 October 2003 , resolution condemning the construction of a "wall" encroaching on "Occupied Palestinian Territory" by 144 votes in favor and 4 against. This decision is not binding and has been rejected by the State of Israel. The Israeli Minister of Trade and Industry said: "The security fence will continue being built."
On 8 December 2003 , the UN General Assembly adopted resolution asking the International Court of Justice to render an advisory opinion on the question: "What are the legal consequences of the Wall that Israel, the occupying Power, is being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, according to what is stated in the report of the Secretary-General, considering the rules and principles of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and the resolutions on this matter by the Security Council and the General Assembly? .
On 9 July 2004 , the International Court of Justice delivered its opinion on the question put to him by the UN General Assembly. It said in its response that: "The construction of the wall that Israel, the occupying Power, is being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law ".
On 20 July 2004 , the UN General Assembly adopted resolution , after taking note of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. The resolution "demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations as mentioned in the advisory opinion."
The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday, December 15, 2006 by 162 votes against and seven abstentions September the creation of an agency responsible for receiving complaints of Palestinians from Israel's construction of the wall in the West Bank separation barrier. The office is based in Vienna and will include a three member board, an executive director and a small staff. The resolution of the General Assembly said that the new board was created to comply with a notice issued in 2004 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared the wall illegal .
The State of Israel has responded to all of these reviews by denouncing the "tendentious and biased position of the UN General Assembly." He said through the question formulated by the "hostile country" whose influence is predominant in this meeting. He also recalled that it was outside the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice to deal with "contentious political issues without the agreement of the parties involved Decisions of the Israeli justice See also Law in Israel The Israeli government claims the right to defend its citizens against terrorism, which is included in international law
On 15 September 2005 / A>, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a part of the separation barrier was illegal and asked the government of Ariel Sharon to reconsider the route near the settlement of Alfei Menashe because of injury to the villagers by land isolated area and the number olive trees uprooted.
Public opinion
Reaction to Palestinian civil society
On July 9, 2005, to mark the anniversary of the opinion of the International Court of Justice , Palestinian civil society, through the voice of 171 organizations, initiated the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions .
The wall art
Simone Bitton has made a documentary film, Wall ', which chronicles, through interviews with people more or less involved (the builders of this wall are the Israelis themselves, but people of any nationality), people who go around and Amos Yaron, Director of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, its impact on daily life .
In 2007, a French director, Frank Salome, conducted a wall in Jerusalem on the specific consequences of the wall of the city and its environs.
Palestinian filmmaker Nizar Abu Zayyad created a short documentary, Till When, on the living conditions of Palestinians because of the wall.
The wall itself is the medium of art initiated in the form of tags, posters and graffiti more or less creative, some are made by famous artists, such as posters photographer JR , frescoes English street artist Banksy or paint and graffiti Sir Cana , who also works in refugee camps. References Related articles
External Links
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5, rated)
Loading ...