Posted on 01/23/2005 1:49:46 AM PST by dennisw
Vast barricade being erected along Israel's border with the Palestinian West Bank is rapidly altering the political, social and economic landscape of a struggle that has defied attempts at peace for a half-century. As Jews and Arabs brace for elections in the Palestinian territories today, the planned withdrawal of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip and threats of civil war on both sides, the construction of the barrier is yet another issue that must be resolved for a lasting peace. For Arabs and Muslims around the world, Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands is the central conflict between the Judeo-Christian West and the Islamic world. From their perspective, the wall is a powerful symbol of that domination. But to Israelis, the issue is just as stark -- the security of a tiny, narrow country surrounded by hostile neighbors. The $3 billion, 437-mile phalanx of electronic fences, walls, trenches and patrol roads is the biggest public works project in Israel's history. About one-third of the structure is finished, with completion expected next year. The barricade has strong support among American Jews and Israeli expatriates living in South Florida, one of the largest Jewish communities in the United States, and the source of millions of dollars in annual donations and trade with Israel. Leaders of Israeli settlements in the West Bank regularly make pilgrimages here to raise money for schools, synagogues, medical facilities and other projects in their communities. The image of the Jewish state sealing its borders from an unprecedented wave of terror has galvanized local support. Spurred by the violence, local Jewish leaders launched an organization -- Nefesh B'Nefesh -- that has organized airlifts bringing more than 4,000 North American Jews to Israel. In 2004, immigration from North America to the Jewish state was the highest since 1983.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
hmmmm, from Brownsville to Tijuana ? good idea!
Seeing these photos to me is like seeing picutres of Mumia Abu Jamal looking sad and seeing his drawings of captivity...in other words, utterly meaningless. Why do liberals need so desperately to feel guilty for the perpetrators of crimes and never the victims? These people are animals who slaughter or condone the slaughter of Israeli innocents. They were trusted with false truce after phony agreement, again and again, with only more dead Jews to follow, as Arabs want only to kill every Jew and destroy Israel..."peace" means nothing to them. Only since this wall has gone up has the killing stopped. But the press can't stand that. So because some Arab kid drew a watercolor and some Western activist scribbled slogans on the wall and snapped photos of it...are we supposed to feel BAD and demand that the wall come down so Jews can be murdered again? These journalistic propaganda pieces are despicable.
Did Netanyahu say that they were committed to completing the "barrier"? I'm hoping that this new so-called "peace effort" with Abbas does not cause the Irsraelis to lose resolve and stop building the "barrier". Abbas is insisting that the "barrier" must come down.
You are absolutely correct. This barrier is 90% enhanced fencing with sensors and roads for quick IDF response to Muslim infiltration
Its already saved countless lives. There hasn't been a homocide bombing inside Israel proper in over a year. The fence/wall keeps terrorists out and still allows in people with a legitimate need to do business in Israel.
The Ummah (Muslim community) brought this fence/wall upon themselves by making their intifada in 2000. Prior to that Palestinians has very easy access into Israel. The bestial suicide bombers and other terrorism altered that.
They have no one to blame but themselves... as usual. Read the Haj by Uris for an insight into this self defeating Muslim attitude towards life.
Walls are only being built in the Jerusalem area and a few other urban "hot spots" to eliminate the danger of open fire sniping. That's less than 10% of the overall barrier. Most of the fence is just that - fence with alarms and built-in infiltration measures and dirt roads. Sure it inconveniences the Arabs but Israelis are prepared to put up with inconveniences to their neighbors to stay alive. Besides as Robert Frost once put it so aptly, "good fences make good neighbors."
Re: Roger Waters
My first though too.
Stupid question: If Israel can do this with its Palestinian border, why can't we do this with the Mexican border?
Cause our pols don't want to; Republicans like illegals because it gives big business cheap labor. Dims like illegals cause it gives them votes. Oh, not every one of them, but a majority certainly do and most voters don't even give it a second thought.
You bet.
..then ordered the Israeli company who built the wall to build one against Ukraine and Russia. Of course not against Turkey, which would be geograöphically easy, since Turkey is a source of that religion all euroweenies love so much: Islam.
Good pic. It DOES explain the difference!
Red6
I'll make you a bet most of that graffiti was done by American "peace" activists.
Let's call it the "Friendship Wall". :)
All negotiations have failed. It’s the Palestinians who had SEVERAL opportunities to make peace and had a very lucrative compromise offered to them. But who can’t remember Arafat saying “NO” to an offer which was so sweet that the Israeli PM was killed because of it? They had 99.99% of what they (Palestinians) wanted and they said “NO”.
It IS clear which side is responsible here. The Palestinians can’t hold to their word even when they do agree to something. They are unwilling to make any compromises. It’s not the Israelis who “target” civilian populace in train stations, busses, schools, markets or airplanes.
After decades of promises, negotiations that have failed and outside mediators, observers, peacekeepers there has been NO resolution to this issue. The Israelis have given up hope to a solution. While they still pursue a solution politically, they MUST resort to such measures as this wall for the protection of their population. Comparing this to the Berlin wall is just another cheap ignorant out of context association intended to create a negative perception.
This wall is needed.
Red6
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