Israel will fence off West Bank

The Times (U.K.) ^ | 06/05/2002 | Christopher Walker

[Texaggie79]

Fence, hell they need a concrete wall.

[My2Cents]

...with razor wire.

[McGavin999]

It's about time they did this. It's a real shame it has to be this way, but since the Palestinian people can't seem to do anything about the murderers in their midst, this seems the only reasonable solution.

[Eala]

A "Megiddo-not" Line?

I'm dubious; didn't work for the French. (Yes, circumstances are different, threat is different, but I'm still dubious...)

[mseltzer]

I vote for a moat filled with starving alligators.

[RightWhale]

Following the model of the Romans in fencing off Scotland and Wales. They didn't just put up a picket fence either, it was substantial earthworks with vertical oaken logs. Went up quickly, eliminated most of the problem right away. Apparently the Roman patrol could hear barbarian growls from the other side of the barrier, but taking out a couple posts to breach the wall was more work than barbarians can do quietly, so all in all it did work.

[bybybill]

This is the first step to peace, defined borders, for both Israelis and Palestinians. Now, continue to go after the bombers and leave the bulldozers home.

[Polybius]

A "Megiddo-not" Line? I'm dubious; didn't work for the French.

I doubt that the Israelis will leave their left flank in the air as the French did.

[Shermy]

Sharon is finally drawing a line in the sand.

[rmlew]

Half assed solution. The solution is to define the defendable borders with a complete wall along the West Bank. The Wall should not run along the Green line. Instead it should include those areas Israel wants. At that point, negotiations over land are over and the PAlestinians can either accept it or blow themselves to bits trying to infiltrate.

[rmlew]

It works well with Gaza which is essentially walled off.
No defensive measure is perfect. Given a willingness to take enough casualies any defense can be overcome. The Wall will minimise attacks, while maximising the harm to the Islamists. .

The real difficulty is, after walling off the border with the PA, how does Israel patrol the border between Jordan and Arafatistan?
The border between Egypt and Gaza is already hard to defend.

[dts32041]

I like your solution, now I know where there are som east german engineers who have had some reall experience in being good neighbors.

[Eala]

It works well with Gaza which is essentially walled off.

Thanks for the info.

I confess I'm not thoroughly up on the situation -- but I remember even the Berlin Wall was inadequate against even unfunded determineds, not to mention American prison escapees...

[rmlew]

I like your solution, now I know where there are som east german engineers who have had some reall experience in being good neighbors.

I take it that if Mexicans were once again shooting up the southwest, you would hold that borders should be open?
If you are sane, you would say no. Now apply the logic to Israel.

[rmlew]

I confess I'm not thoroughly up on the situation -- but I remember even the Berlin Wall was inadequate against even unfunded determineds, not to mention American prison escapees...

Put up a minefield and guard towers. This will reduce incursions.
Again, no defense is perfect.

[dts32041]

I agreed with your solution, Jut thought I would suggest some people who know how to build walls, thats all.

As far as Mexico aggression towards the US, the border should have been sealed in 1916.

[Prodigal Son]

but I remember even the Berlin Wall was inadequate against even unfunded determineds, not to mention American prison escapees...

Aye, keep in mind though, how many people would've crossed had there been no wall at all. Also, many people died trying to get across the wall. Although these were people tying to gain freedom, for the purposes of argument try to imagine each one who died as a pontential terrorist bent on murder.

A barrier, I think is a logical place to start. Personally, I would also build one around each Palestinian city, town, village- hell maybe around each house... But that's just me.

[maxwellp]

This is a very smart move by Israel. May I suggest another move which I think should also be employed by America along all our open borders. Tall towers placed at equal distances and manned with personnel and equipment that can spot illegals accurately trying to enter illegally.

[2sheep]

There have been many instances of tunneling under.  How can they prevent that?