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 ...
The wall won't stop grenades, mortars, rockets, missiles, sniper bullets from hill-tops so in the long-run, the wall will only stop suicide bombers.
The Palestinians will just find another way to kill.
They will forever be lobbing grenades over the wall against each other.
Give me a break. There is no big business "cheap Mexican labor". They do the jobs in the Red Zone the citizens of the Blue Zone abandoned for the free and easy welfare in the cities.
They process agricultural products..... picking tomatoes and Christmas trees. They pick up litter from the interstates. They work as construction workers. They work in used car lot maintenance and detailing shops.
I would say they pay taxes allow crack whores to draw welfare to support their bastard kids.
I'll admit that my observations are limited to a few dozen companies all located in border states. I'm certainly open to any suggestions why so few of them seem to be so unwilling to secure our borders but I don't think it's because they pay taxes....
Most of it looks freshly painted too. The english part was probably done by the reporter just before the photos were taken. It adds subtle support to the "let's feel sorry for the pali's" propaganda. Most of the MSM's liberal audience won't find it odd that the graffiti is in english.
Might as well put one on the Canadia border, too, but with a special exit door for grieving lefties.
a wall is not nice,it sucks, but killing is worse--attacks down 90% since wall---wall is nice,it's great..ball in the pals court!
WARNING: This is a high volume ping list
Here's a clue: don't let your kids climb the damn fence!
Most of it looks freshly painted too.
All the same person's handwriting.
Probably done by some ISM Rachel Corrie-wannabes. Where's a D-9 when you need one?
That raises the specter of apartheid -- minority control based on race, religion and ethnicity -- which could weaken Israel's image as the only democracy in the Middle East. "
Actually the claims of superior Palestinian growth have been greatly exaggerated.
That raises the specter of apartheid
Arabs making this claim are the biggest practitioners of apartheid on the planet.
I think that people need to remember the fame of Abu Dis for its firing at the neighboring Jewish parts of the city. The walls are made so high not to waste concrete, but to stop the gunfire into the Jewish parts of town.
"If I were King" one would not have to build walls around the burned down husks of houses used as firing bases for attacks against civilians. Nothing would have been left standing from the return artillery. It would have killed a lot of terrorists and saved a lot of concrete for more constructive things.
I have no pity for the Arabs cries of unfair when Israel builds fences in Israel because of the Arab attacks. If the Arabs do not like fences, they could stop killing people. Frankly attempting to fence in madmen is a poor way to stop terrorism. Kill them. That works and is much cheaper.
Both took brains, initiative and vision, but most of all, they took guts to buck the leftist agenda.
Israel built the wall to prevent terrorism and physical decimation. They got the added benefit of economic growth.
Arizona passed their proposition to prevent economic decimation, and they will get the added benefit of physical well being as thousands of illegals leave for easier pickings elsewhere.
I propose that it is a mistake for Israel to view any part of this fence/wall as temporary. The pressure from the Palestinians will never stop, anymore than the pressure from our southern border will stop.
We need a wall just like the Israelis need a wall, but both must be viewed like the Great Wall of China - permanent.
Like Sigorney Weaver said about the aliens, "That's the only way to be sure."
Oh cry me a freakin river and fill it with herring.
The Warsaw Ghetto was built to keep Jews locked IN.
The people of Abu Dis can go wherever they like, except INTO Israel to KILL JEWS.
Note that most pictures are on the Israeli side of the wall as there is no arabic on the walls. The reporter at least knows what side of the wall is safe to be on.
Note also that the Jews tend to paint pictures on the wall to try and take away some of the bad look. The picture of the kids next to the wall with the flowers on it is obviously on the Jewish side of the wall.
These pictures are staged by quite a hypocrite.
Of course, and, you know, I looked upon this sentence as a condemnation of future apartheid attempts by the Palestinians, but the last part of that sentence suggests the author of this article thinks Israel will be the ones practicing apartheid, which is patently ridiculous.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.