Israel's Security Fence Gains Global Support

Israel Ministry of Defense: "Israel's Security Fence is a temporary program designed to prevent Islamic terror suicide bombers from murdering Israeli civilians as Israel negotiates a peace agreement with the Palestinians"
Photo: Israel Ministry of Defense

Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and Hezbollah display no intention for peaceful compromise.
These Islamic terror organizations claim on their Web sites the desire to "drive Israel into the sea".

Jerusalem-----December 12.....The sole purpose of the Seam Zone, also known as Israel's Security Fence, as stated in the Israeli Government decision of July 23rd 2001, is to provide security to Israel's civilian population from Palestinian terrorism. Israel's security establishment simply states that the fence: "saves lives." Both diplomatic and security sources from dozens of nations have recognized Israel's right to defend herself and see Israel's security fence as a practical part of the solution to regional peace.

"The security fence is a central component in Israel’s response to the horrific wave of terrorism emanating from the West Bank, resulting in suicide bombers who enter into Israel with the sole intention of killing innocent people," state Israeli government officials. "Sadly, this abhorrent phenomenon has become common practice since September 2000 and has forced Israel to create a temporary border, no different in nature to the fence which separate the United States from Mexico."

Between Israel and the areas of the Palestinian Authority there is no border or natural obstacles, which, to date, enables the almost unhindered entry of terrorists into Israel.
The security fence that exists along the Gaza Strip has proven its defensive robustness and the vast majority of infiltration attempts through it, were discovered and thwarted.

The “Security Fence” is a manifestation of Israel’s basic commitment to defend its citizens, and once completed, it will improve the ability of the IDF to prevent the infiltration of terrorists and criminal elements into Israel for the purpose of carrying out terrorist attacks or the smuggling of arms and explosives.

The Palestinians committed themselves in the Oslo accords and in the road map to dismantle terrorist networks and confiscate illegal weapons. After more than 10 years of negotiations, and a mounting toll of Israeli civilian casualties, however, it became clear to the Israeli people that the Palestinian Authority (PA) made a strategic choice to use terror to achieve its aims and that something had to be done to protect the civilian population.

“It obliges us to establish a barrier wall which is the only thing that can minimize the infiltration of these male and female suicide bombers,” said Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who has emphasized that “the fence is not political, [and] is not a border.”

Palestinian terrorists are a short walk away from Israel's restaurants, buses and shopping centers.
The security fence will allow peaceful Palestinians to work in Israel, while keeping the terrorists at a distance.

Israel's security fence program was approved by the Defense Cabinet in July 2000. However, at that point of time it was perceived as a means to prevent illegal entry into Israel through the seizure, interrogation and arrest of these elements by the police.
The obstacle itself was referred to as an obstacle in three separate areas: Um el Fahem,Tulkarem and Jerusalem, a total of 80 km.

In the months that followed it became apparent that the ability of the IDF and the police to stop illegal entry into Israel depended on the existence of a contiguous obstacle. Accordingly, when in April 2002 the responsibility for building the security fence was placed with the Ministry of Defence, the original plan underwent modifications based on the principle of continuity.
In June 2002 the Defence Cabinet approved, with minor reservations, the plan based on the principe of a contiguous obstacle.

The route from Salem to Elkana and in the northern and southern sections of Jerusalem was finally approved in August 2002.

"The security fence does not separate one people, i.e. - Germans from Germans, and deny freedom to those on one side," states Israeli defense officials.

Second, while Israelis are fully prepared to live with Palestinians, and 20 percent of the Israeli population is already Arab, it is the Palestinians who say they do not want to live with any Jews and call for the West Bank to be judenrein. Third, the security fence is not being constructed to prevent the citizens of one state from escaping; it is designed solely to keep terrorists out of Israel.

The construction of Israel's security fence represents a rational, just means to defend Israel's population.
Only three percent of the security fence has been designed as a cement wall, preventing Palestinian snipers from taking aim at Israeli civilians.

Finally, of the 150 miles scheduled to be constructed, only a tiny fraction of that (about 5 miles) is actually a 30 foot high wall, and that is being built in three areas where it will prevent Palestinian snipers from around the terrorist hotbeds of Kalkilya and Tul Karm from shooting at cars as they have done for the last three years along the Trans-Israel Highway, one of the country's main roads. The wall also takes up less space than the other barriers, only about seven feet, so it did not have a great impact on the area where it was built.

Most of the barrier will be a chain-link type fence similar to those used all over the United States combined with underground and long-range sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, trenches, landmines and guard paths. Manned checkpoints will constitute the only way to travel back and forth through the fence. The barrier is altogether about 160 feet wide in most places.

The land used in building the security fence is seized for military purposes, not confiscated, and it remains the property of the owner. Legal procedures are already in place to allow every owner to file an objection to the seizure of their land. Moreover, property owners are offered compensation for the use of their land and for any damage to their trees.

Over 900 Israeli men, women and children have been murdered by Palestinian terrorism.

Israel is doing its best to minimize the negative impact on Palestinians in the area of construction and is providing agricultural passageways to allow farmers to continue to cultivate their lands, and crossing points to allow the movement of people and the transfer of goods. Moreover, property owners are offered compensation for the use of their land and for any damage to their trees. Contractors are responsible for carefully uprooting and replanting the trees. So far, more than 60,000 olive trees have been relocated in accordance with this procedure.

"The Palestinians will also benefit from the security fence because it will reduce the need for Israeli military operations in the territories, and the deployment of troops in Palestinian towns," Israeli defense sources said. "Onerous security measures, such as curfews and checkpoints, will either be unnecessary or dramatically scaled back."