“ And the Walls Came…” The Israel/Palestine Conflict Perceptions Perspectives Prospects

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! Ronald Reagan 1989 Map The Berlin Wall 1961

A Controversial Construction The West Bank Barrier 2003

A Controversial Construction The West Bank Barrier 2003

A Controversial Construction The West Bank Barrier 2003

What Questions Do You Have? What? Where? Who? When? How? Cost? How long? Why? Impact?

Denotation wall a work or structure of stone, brick, or other materials, intended for defense or security , or for an enclosure LATIN vallum a wall set with palisades vallus a stake, pale, palisade

barrier a fence, stockade, or other obstacle in a passage or way, to stop an enemy ; anything that hinders attack barriere bar OLD FRENCH Denotation

Israel/Palestine The West Bank Where is the West Bank? What river? Jordan River

Maps The West Bank Barrier 2003

Perceptions Enclosure? Forced Annexation? Security? What do you see? The West Bank Barrier 2003

Israeli Perspective “ We have to decide upon separation as a philosophy. There has to be a clear border. Without demarcating the lines, whoever wants to swallow 1.8 million Arabs will just bring greater support for Hamas.” Yitzhak Rabin 1994

Israeli Perspective Suicide Bombings/Terrorism

Israeli Perspective Suicide Bombings/Terrorism 985 people have been killed by Palestinian violence and terrorism since September 2000.

Israeli Perspective There’s been a decrease in successful suicide bomb attacks from the West Bank. The barrier has saved lives!

“ The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law.” International Court of Justice, July 9, 2004 World Court Perspective

“ This is a historic day and a historic decision…The court ruling is a major blow to those racists who built the wall with the false justification of security needs.” Palestinian Prime MinisterAhmed Qureia, 2004 Palestinian Perspective

Palestinian Perspective We oppose the barrier. It has separated many of us from our lands, our work places, and our schools—our lives have been severely disrupted!

Palestinians Protest July 2004 The West Bank Barrier 2003

Pope John Paul II’s Perspective The construction of a wall between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people is seen by many as a new obstacle on the road to peaceful cohabitation. In fact, the Holy Land does not need walls but bridges.

Prospects For peace?

Prospects For quality of life?

Prospects For future generations?

West Germany East Germany Soviet-controlled NEXT A Country Divided The Berlin Wall 1961

U.S.S.R. West Berlin East Berlin Britain France U.S . communism capitalism Slide 2 A City Divided The Berlin Wall 1961

Compare & Contrast The West Bank Barrier 2003 The Berlin Wall 1961

Compare & Contrast The West Bank Barrier 2003 The Berlin Wall 1961

Compare & Contrast The West Bank Barrier 2003 The Berlin Wall 1961 Walter Ulbricht Ariel Sharon

“ From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe…” metaphor

“… All these famous cities and the populations around them lie in the Soviet sphere and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow.” The Cold War Winston Churchill March 5, 1946