Israel's construction of a barrier, intended to secure Israelis from violent attacks by West Bank Palestinians, has become a hot issue. There has been considerable coverage by the media; photos of the massive concrete walls and coils of razor wire along with maps of a fragmented West Bank. These visuals bring to mind prisons or reservations and are ready symbols of a military occupation that belies all hope for either peace between two sovereign states or reconciliation between the peoples. 

With the Road Map peace plan seemingly dormant and new peace initiatives as yet unofficial and embryonic, we need to focus on the Sharon government's effort to change facts-on-the-ground.

The Facts
There is considerable debate about what term to use. "Security fence" is the preferred Israeli term.  The New York Times uses "security barrier." "Apartheid Wall" is favored by some Palestinians and solidarity organizations. The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem use "Separation Wall," as does the National Council of Churches. Actually, the 60-yard-wide physical barriers are a combination of concrete walls (up to 25 feet high with gun turrets), steel barriers, razor wire, electronic sensors, trenches and patrol roads.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that the barrier will disrupt the lives of 600,000 Palestinians – nearly one-third of West Bank Palestinians. This includes Palestinians encircled by the barrier as well as those who need to cross it to reach farms or jobs. The plan would put nearly 15 percent of West Bank land on the Israeli side.

Based on the detailed map that Israel presented in October, the U.N. calculates that only 11 percent of the barrier is to be built on the "Green Line" - the 1949 armistice line that defined pre-1967 Israel and the West Bank. Israel's map shows a twisting route of more than 400 miles that extends deeply into the West Bank to include Jewish settlements. About one-quarter of the barrier has been built, mostly in the northern and northwestern West Bank and near Jerusalem.

Not included on the Israeli map is the Jordan Valley section. The Associated Press reported on October 24 that a senior Israeli official said there has been approval of an extension of the fence that would cut the Jordan Valley off from the rest of the West Bank, though funds for its construction have not been allocated. This separation of the West Bank Palestinians from Jordan, by Israeli-controlled and settled territory, would further diminish the potential for a viable Palestinian economy and a basis of sovereignty.  

Cost estimates keep increasing.  In October, Israeli newspapers reported that initial estimates had jumped from NIS 4.5 billion to NIS 7.5 billion ($1.68 billion); not including the cost of regular maintenance, estimated at NIS 160,000 ($35,800) per kilometer.  The chair of the Knesset Economics Committee calculated a total cost of NIS 15 billion ($3.35 billion), including the extensions to Ariel and other settlements and the Jordan Valley section along with the infrastructure and maintenance.

"Fortress Jerusalem"
Coined by Geoffrey Aronson of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, the term suits the plan of  Prime Minister Sharon's government to undermine not only the possibility of Jerusalem being the capital of a sovereign Palestine, but also its historical role as the hub of Palestinian life and economy.  Aronson foretells: "Despite its vaunted security function, the barriers now being constructed will fail as a security measure and will cause endemic Palestinian poverty, bloodshed, and resistance."

In conjunction with the large settlements built to the south, north and east of Jerusalem, the separation barriers are meant to complete the isolation of East Jerusalem Palestinians from those on its West Bank periphery. Dr. Menachem Klein put it most starkly, "Israel wants to destroy Arab metropolitan Jerusalem and control it without annexing it." An expert on Jerusalem, Dr. Klein was an advisor to the Israeli delegation at the Camp David Summit in July 2000 and participated in the Geneva agreement talks. Lecturing in Washington D.C., he said to the audience invited by Americans for Peace Now: "The wall is not only defensive. It is aggressive and dominating, because it preserves control over poor and neglected Palestinian areas."

B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights center, reports that two sections of the separation barrier, north and south of the city, have been completed. In September, Israel began groundwork for another section along the east. Stating that "the barrier will completely seal the municipal seam line and destroy the existing fabric of life," B'Tselem noted that "a large percentage of residents of the suburbs receive medical services in al-Moqassad Hospital and Augusta Victoria Hospital [Lutheran World Federation owned and operated], both located in East Jerusalem."  

The Rosary Sisters of Jerusalem write: "Our congregation, which was founded in Jerusalem, is tremendously affected by this wall.  The route of the wall will cut off areas of northern Jerusalem and so our convent will be in the enclosed zone behind the wall. The wall separates our convent and members of the Christian community, 400 families, from the parish church and so our religious freedom is also restricted."

"We pray that peace will prevail in this country hence we ask all those who seek justice to support us in finding proper, peaceful, and just solutions that would bring people together and not separate them by walls which increase the hardships of innocent civilians."

Imprisoned Bethlehem
Along the south rim of Jerusalem lies Bethlehem, with the town of Beit Jala on its west and the town of Beit Sahour on its east.  Rachel's Tomb, and a major checkpoint, stand at the entrance to Bethlehem on the road from Jerusalem. The overlooking Jewish neighborhoods, Gilo and Har Homa, qualify as settlements since they are built on West Bank land that Israel conquered and annexed in 1967. The separation wall has been completed there, except for the area of Rachel's Tomb, where an exceptionally high fence is to be built. A July U.N. report notes: "Overall, the construction of the Wall in the Bethlehem area will mean confiscation of some 4,500 acres."  

In a "Statement Regarding the Separation Wall," the Bishops and Patriarchs of Jerusalem wrote that the consequences of the separation wall around Bethlehem "will be devastating to the Christian Community; not least the psychological impact on daily life. The community will be isolated following the deprivation of access to land and freedom of movement." They express their "determination to do all in our power to work for peace in this Holy Land - a peace that is concerned with the well-being of every resident of this land, be they Israeli or Palestinian."
 
U.S. Policy on the Fence
President Bush, National Security Advisor Rice and Secretary of State Powell have all criticized Israel's construction of a wall because of its intrusion into Palestinian territory.  The Secretary has said: "A nation is within its rights to put up a fence if it sees the need for one." However, he said, "in the case of the Israeli fence we are concerned when the fence crosses over onto the land of others."

Speaking in London on November 19, the President affirmed a commitment to a viable, independent state for the Palestinian people and security and recognition for the state of Israel.  He specifically asked Israel to "not prejudice final negotiations with the placement of walls and fences." Israel rejected the criticism, saying construction would proceed as planned. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said: "We have reached a clear and unequivocal decision to build this fence to prevent the extremists from attacking us." Halting the construction of the security fence was cited, a few days later, by Palestinian Prime Minister Qureia as a precondition to a summit with Sharon.   

In the five months since the separation wall issue surfaced, there have been sporadic reports that the Administration would rebuke Israel for some of its construction activities in the West Bank by reducing the amount of loan guarantees.

To help Israel's failing economy, Congress included $9 billion in loan guarantees to Israel (provided over three years) in the supplemental appropriations for FY2003. (Israel could borrow the $9 billion from commercial banks at a lower rate because the U.S. would guarantee the loans against default.) Law stipulates that the loan guarantees can be reduced by an amount equal to the amount Israel spends each year on settlements in the occupied territories. That raises the question whether the wall is a settlement-related expenditure or a security-related expenditure. 

After weeks of negotiations between National Security Advisor Rice and Sharon's chief of staff, it was announced on November 25 that $289.5 million would be "voluntarily" deducted. Calling the decision "largely symbolic," The Washington Post reported that while U.S. officials said the figure was $40 million higher because of the fence construction, an Israeli official said: "From our point of view it does not include the fence."

Building Bridges
As the year ends, there are new hopes for Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. The Road Map peace plan received a unanimous endorsement, sponsored by Russia, from the U.N. Security Council on November 19. The Geneva Accord, a detailed final status agreement worked out by former Palestinian and Israeli negotiators, has squelched the commonly-held perception that there is no credible partner for peacemaking. 

The will to feel compassion for the "other"-the enemy-is a fundamental building block for peacemaking. Security-credentialed Israelis are now condemning the Sharon Government's actions and policies as being immoral treatment of the Palestinians as well as disastrous for Israel. American Jewish leaders and politicians are beginning to question their protective stance toward Israel.

Avraham Shalom, a former head of Israel's security service, said about the barrier complex: "It creates hatred, it expropriates land and annexes hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the state of Israel.  The result is that the fence achieves the exact opposite of what was intended. The more we support the fence, they lose their dream and hope for an independent Palestinian state." 

The Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian populace have been devastated-psychologically, physically and economically-by the last 38 months of violence, as have been the Israelis. For Palestinians and for Israelis, it will be difficult to restore a sense of confidence in a political process, as well as trust in political leaders and hope for a better future.

Suggested Action:
There is no quick fix to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, there are numerous action and policy changes that can be undertaken immediately that could improve peoples' lives and awaken hope for peacemaking.  One of the most concrete and visible actions would be for Israel to tear down the Separation Wall that has been built on West Bank land.  This is unlikely unless the United States government uses its considerable influence to convince Israel and Israel's supporters in the United States that this is necessary and in Israel's best interest as well.

Call on the White House and Congress to tear down the separation wall.

Make these points:

• I am deeply distressed by the building of the separation wall by Israel.
• The wall is resulting in the de facto imprisonment of the Palestinian population and eliminates hope for a peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict.
• Reducing the loan guarantees is only symbolic unless construction of the wall ends.
• I join with the National Council of Churches and call for Israel to tear down the separation wall that is being erected.
• Or, I agree with Pope John Paul that the Wall is an obstacle on the road to peace. The Holy Land does not need walls, but bridges.

This is a hot issue and calls are certain to be tabulated. Tell the receptionist that you want to leave a message about foreign policy; you may be transferred to the Foreign Policy Legislative Aide's phone. Identify yourself by name, and church or denomination if you're comfortable with that. 

The White House Comments line is (202) 456-1111.
Call the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 to reach your Representative and two Senators.

You can also leave a message on the website of some Representatives and Senators.  Go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.

The National Council of Churches' General Assembly, on November 6, adopted a Resolution on the Conflict in the Middle East, "...based on our faith that 'Now in Christ Jesus, he has broken down the dividing wall that is the hostility between us.'" (Eph.2:14)  Reiterating support for a Palestinian State alongside the State of Israel, and an open, shared Jerusalem, the General Assembly calls for the tearing down of the Separation Wall.

The National Council of Churches' resolution, and all documents mentioned, are posted on our website (www.cmep.org). Check out our resource center about the wall at www.cmep.org/documents/separationwall.htm