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The Issue
Location
Location
History
In 2000, the opposition prime minister of Israel at the time, Ariel Sharon, together with a squad of Israeli riot police visited the temple mount, the third holiest site in Islam
Despite being told that if they visited there would be no uproar and not actually going into Al Aqsa Mosque as well as going during regular visiting hours, when they left angry Palestinian Jerusalemites started rioting in the streets
This was the catalyst for the Second Intifada, which was a series of violent riots, suicide bombings and gunfire from the Palestinians in protest of their treatment by Israel.
Israel responded with military action and conducted many targeted killings.
To stop the violent attacks coming from the west bank, Israel erected a security fence along the border with patrolled checkpoints through which everyone must pass to get into Israel.
Groups
Israelis are in charge of patrolling the security fence and anyone who
can prove their Jewish or Israeli identity is allowed through the checkpoints
and into Israel without being searched
Israel was also responsible for the construction of the fence despite the United Nations declaring it violates international law.
Israel did not adhere to the United Nations declaration and announced that the fence was a success in reducing the amount of terrorism from the West Bank, falling from 73 suicide bombings from 2000-2003 to 12 from 2003-2006
Although the barrier is often portrayed as a wall, more than 90% of it is actually a multi-layered electric fence that, when touched, alerts the IDF of the contact
When alerted, the IDF will go to the place of contact very quickly to investigate
and question anyone trying to get past it
Many Israelis ideally do not want a security fence but are in favor of it since
it stops them killing of Israelis in terrorist attacks
Palestinians, almost unanimously feel that the security fence is a violation of their human rights and an infringement of their freedom
When crossing through checkpoints, Palestinians must undergo an inspection to confirm that they are not a threat to the safety of Israelis
This takes much longer than Jews who wish to enter Israel as they are not searched
Palestinians claim that this is an element of an Apartheid state and they are being oppressed by Israel
Additionally, the barrier is occasionally built on Palestinian land or separates some people from their own land
In effect the wall hinders people living in the west bank's ability to go about everyday life as they must go through checkpoints every time they wish to enter Israel
The Israeli citizens are benefitting from the wall as it greatly decreases the risk of terrorist attacks coming from the west bank
Solutions
The wall itself was created to solve the issue of terrorist attacks so not much is happening to take it down
Should a peace agreement occur, and a two state solution is put in place then it is likely the wall will be taken down
Furthermore, in some cases exceptions are made such as the town Barta'a
This town was split down the middle when Jordan had control of the West Bank but after Israeli occupancy, the split down the middle was removed
Residents of Barta'a can now travel throughout the entire town despite half of it being Israel and the other half in the West Bank
This is to improve the quality of life for the people living there
Residents of the town are still not allowed into the rest of Israel
I personally believe that although the barrier does restrict the lives of the Palestinians and I would prefer it not to be there, it is a necessary evil
It has saved the lives of a countless number of Israelis and I think it should remain despite being criticised by the rest of the world
Should a peace agreement be reached that ensures the safety of Israelis then I think it should be removed
Keep the barrier as it is and continue to strive for peace between Israelis and Palestinians
Once peace has been reached then destroy the wall