Israeli West Bank barrier

Israeli West Bank barrier. The Israeli West Bank barrier is a physical separation structure built by the Government of Israel primarily along the Green Line and within parts of the West Bank. Its construction, initiated in 2002 during the Second Intifada, was justified by Israeli authorities as a necessary security measure to prevent terrorist attacks emanating from the territory. The project has been highly controversial, with critics, including the International Court of Justice, labeling it a de facto annexation of land and a violation of international law, significantly impacting the lives of Palestinians.

Background and construction

The impetus for the barrier's construction emerged from the intense violence of the Second Intifada, a period marked by numerous suicide attacks within Israel by militants from groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Israeli government, led by then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, argued that a physical obstacle was essential to stop infiltrations. The decision was influenced by the perceived success of the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier around the Gaza Strip. Initial construction began in June 2002 near Salem, with the project managed by the Israel Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense. Funding was approved by the Knesset, and the route has been frequently modified due to both operational considerations and rulings from the Supreme Court of Israel.

Route and structure

The barrier's route extends for over 700 kilometers, though only approximately 85% of the planned construction had been completed by the early 2020s. While sections near urban areas like Jerusalem and Ariel consist of up to 8-meter-high concrete walls, most of its length is a complex multi-layered wire fence system. This system typically includes a barbed wire anti-vehicle trench, a patrol road, an intrusion-detection electronic sensor fence, and a smooth strip for tracking footprints. A significant portion of the barrier's route runs east of the Green Line, incorporating large Israeli settlement blocs such as Ma'ale Adumim and Gush Etzion on the Israeli side, which places around 9% of the West Bank's land in the area between the barrier and the Green Line.

Legal and political status

The barrier's legal status is a major point of contention. In a 2004 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice in The Hague declared the sections built within the Occupied Territories contrary to international law, citing violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention and impeding the Palestinian right to self-determination. The United Nations General Assembly subsequently adopted a resolution demanding Israel comply with the ruling. Conversely, the Supreme Court of Israel has assessed the barrier's legality on a case-by-case basis under principles of proportionality, often ordering rerouting to lessen humanitarian impact but upholding its overall necessity for security. The Palestinian Authority and the League of Arab States consistently condemn the barrier as an illegal land grab.

Impact and effects

The barrier has profoundly altered the human geography of the West Bank. It has significantly reduced the number of successful attacks inside Israel, a fact acknowledged by Israeli security officials and organizations like Shin Bet. However, it has severely restricted movement for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, separating many from their agricultural lands, workplaces in Israel, and essential services. Communities like Qalqilyah and Bethlehem have been largely encircled. The barrier's route has also contributed to the isolation of East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and facilitated the expansion of settlements, affecting the viability of a future Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

International reaction

International reaction has been predominantly critical. Key allies, including the U.S. State Department under various administrations, have expressed opposition to sections that deviate from the Green Line, viewing them as prejudicing final status negotiations. The European Union and numerous human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and B'Tselem, have repeatedly condemned the barrier's route. The project has been the subject of multiple debates and resolutions within the UN Security Council and General Assembly. Support for Israel's security rationale has come primarily from within Israel and from some political factions in the United States Congress and other allied nations.

Category:Israeli West Bank barrier Category:West Bank Category:Arab–Israeli conflict Category:Walls