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The Greater Jerusalem Security Barrier Revisited May 2008
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem As approved by the Israeli Government in .…April 2006, and subject to the results of a number of cases… pending before the Israeli High Court of Justice, the most prominent of which :relate to the route of the barrier In the Ma’aleh Edumim Bloc * In the Etzion Bloc * Surrounding the Shuafat Refugee Camp * Surrounding Sheikh Sa’ad *
How We Define Greater Jerusalem Our definition of Greater Jerusalem is not arbitrary. It derives from the distinct metropolitan area designated by and included :in the route of the barrier, and specifically East Jerusalem The Givat Ze’ev Bloc The Etzion Bloc The Ma’aleh Edumim Bloc The Greater Jerusalem barrier consequently extends from a point immediately south of .Beit Surik, and to the north of Surif •
The length of the Israeli-Jordanian border between 1949-1967. border between these two points WAS 41 km.
•
The length of the barrier, as currently routed, between the same two points IS 217 km.
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier
Israeli Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier East Jerusalem Includes the Israeli :neighborhoods/settlements of Gilo Har Homa East Talpiot Ramot Eshkol/French Hill Ramot Reches Shuafat Pisgat Ze’ev Neve Yaacov Messianic Settlements within existing Palestinian )neighborhood )app. 2300 residents
Israeli Population:
app. 190,000
.Area Beyond Green line: app. 68 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Etzion Settlement Bloc :Includes the settlements of Efrata Kfar Etzion Migdal Oz Neve Daniel Gvaot Alon Shvut Elazar Bat Ayin Beitar Illit Rosh Tsurim
Israeli Population: app. 47,000 .Area:
app. 71 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Ma’aleh Edumim Settlement Bloc :Includes settlements of Ma’aleh Edumim Kfar Edumim Alon Almon Qedar
Israeli Population: app. 37,000 .Area:
app. 61 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Givat Ze’ev Settlement Bloc :Includes settlements of Givat Ze’ev Givon Har Shmuel Beit Horon
Israeli Population: app. 12,000 .Area:
app. 25 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Total Israeli Population and Area Beyond the Green Line In Greater Jerusalem
Israeli Population: app. 286,000 .Area: app. 4% of the( )West Bank
app. 225 sq. km
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Municipal Boundary Concept The Rationale •
Much of the barrier is routed on or near the Jerusalem Municipal Boundary.
•
The route is based on two considerations, the first formal, the second subliminal: - This route is compatible with the Cabinet decision to separate Israel from the West Bank, since in the eyes of Israeli Law, East Jerusalem is Israel. - This route discloses an attempt to restore the credibility of “eternally-unitedJerusalem” after Camp David legitimized its political division.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Municipal Boundary Concept The Problematics •
This route is oblivious to three key factors: - The Municipal Boundary is recognized by no other nation but Israel itself. - The questions of borders and the status of Jerusalem are final status issues to be determined through negotiations, not by the route of a barrier. - Until the barrier, the Municipal Boundary was a largely fictitious line on a map, oblivious to the existing patterns of life. East Jerusalem Palestinians remained deeply connected in their everyday lives. On all flanks but the southern, the barrier separates Palestinian from Palestinian.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Demographic Concept The Rationale •
In two areas – the Shuafat Refugee CampAnata ridge and Kafr Aq’b, the route has been gerrymandered so as to exclude tens of thousands of Palestinians from Jerusalem.
•
The goal of this concept is to drastically reduce the numbers of Palestinians in the city, who were 25.5% of the population in 1967, and 34% today.
•
This concept was implemented only in places where there were additional considerations: - The desire to “get rid” of Jerusalem’s only refugee camp. - The physical proximity of Kafr Aqb to Ramallah.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Demographic Concept The Problematics •
The decision-makers were oblivious to two key, related factors in determining this route. - The border between East Jerusalem and the West Bank is also an economic one: West Bankers have a per capita GDP of app.$1150 per annum, with that of East Jerusalemites app. $4000 per annum. - The centers of life for the residents of the refugee camp – the work place, schools, hospitals, places of worship – are largely inside Jerusalem
*
In a classic example of “The Law of Unintended Consequences”, the demographic motivation of the barrier has caused tens of thousands of Palestinians to return to the city – and consequently the barrier has led to an increase in the number f actual Palestinian residents ling in East Jerusalem.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Greater Jerusalem Concept The Rationale •
Initially opposed to the barrier, Ariel Sharon came to see it as an opportunity to unilaterally determine the permanent border between Israel and Palestine, in coordination with the United States.
•
The route discloses an attempt to include as much land, and as few Palestinian residents in the three Settlement Blocs to the North, East and South of Jerusalem.
•
The goal is to establish an Israeli territorial sphere of influence not only in “united Jerusalem”, but in Greater Jerusalem.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Greater Jerusalem Concept The Problematics The route disclosed by the “Greater Jerusalem Concept” creates major difficulties for any future political resolution of the conflict, and already has dire humanitarian ramifications. .We will deal with both these issues below
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Final Route A Hybrid of Three Concepts The route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem is consequently a hybrid of three, not always compatible, concepts :being implemented simultaneously •
The Municipal Boundary Concept.
•
The Demographic Concept.
•
The Greater Jerusalem Concept.
The Impact of the Barrier on Palestinian Greater Jerusalem
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier East Jerusalem
The barrier detaches the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem from their natural and historic hinterland in the West .Bank Not being citizens of Israel, this detachment of these residents does not indicate the integration of Palestinian East Jerusalemites .into Israel
Palestinian Population: app. 225,000
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier The Primary Enclaves
The route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem, also entraps Palestinian residents of the West Bank inside the Israeli Settlement Blocs, most .in geographically distinct enclaves
Palestinian Population in the Primary :Enclaves Walajeh Enclave: app. 1700 Battir Enlave: app.11,000 Nahalin Enclave: app. 2500 In addition, Palestinian residents are entrapped within settlement blocs, outside clearly :defined enclaves
Ma’aleh Edumim Bloc: app. 3000 Givat Ze’ev Bloc: app. 200
Palestinian Population inside “Israeli” Settlement Blocs : 18,400
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Secondary Enclaves In addition to Palestinians entrapped within the settlement blocs, the route of the Barrier creates secondary enclaves: areas completely .surrounded by the barrier or a secured road These areas are not on the “Israeli” side of the barrier, yet are detached from the Palestinian West Bank, except by means of a an :“umbilical cord”-like road or roads
Palestinian Population in the Secondary :Enclaves Bir Naballa: app. 15,000 Anata Enclave: app. 39,000
Total Population in Secondary Enclaves : app. 54,000
The Dismemberment of the West Bank The route of the Barrier, and the Settlement Blocs incorporated by it into the “Israeli” side, disrupt the contiguity of .the Palestinian West Bank Given the topography, this virtually dismembers the West Bank into two .cantons, the northern and the southern
The Cantonization of Greater Jerusalem Total Palestinian Population :Inside the Barrier In the Primary Enclaves: app. 15,200 ,Inside the Settlement Blocs but outside the enclaves: app. 3200 In East Jerusalem: app. 225,000
Total:
app. 243,400
Total Population on “Israeli” side of the :Barrier Palestinian - app. 243,400 Israeli app. 286,000 Palestinian Population inside the Secondary Enclaves:
app. 54,000
Strategic Infrastructures: the Barrier and the Road Grid
Strategic Infrastructures: the Road Grid The Israeli Road Grid The road grid in Greater Jerusalem is comprised of major arteries that incorporate the .Settlement Blocs into Israel •
Most of these roads, like Route No. 1 and the Tunnel Road, link the Blocs to Jerusalem, while Route 443 creates a Jerusalem-Tel Aviv link. Route No. 1 creates a Jerusalem- Jordan Valley link.
•
Most of these roads are not accessible to Palestinian residents of the West Bank.
•
Some, like the Beitar Illit Road and Route 443, serve as barriers, contributing to the cantonization of the Palestinian West Bank.
•
The Hizma-Az Za’ayyem road is walled, with Israeli traffic on the East, Palestinian on the West. creating a sealed 16-meter-wide conduit for Palestinian traffic through the Ma’aleh Edumim Settlement Bloc.
Strategic Infrastructures: The Road Grid The Palestinian Road Grid The Palestinian road grid discloses the :following goals •
Diversion of West Bank traffic around East Jerusalem, so that no West Bank resident may enter the city.
•
Creating patterns of movement whereby roads inside the Settlement Blocs will be devoid of Palestinian traffic. This, and the seal of East Jerusalem, divert Palestinian traffic to circuitous, sometimes torturous routes, like the Ramallah-Bethlehem Wadi Naar Route.
•
Creation of a road grid whereby Israelis and Palestinians travel on separate roads even, in the same limited geographical space. The segregated Hizma-Az Za’ayyem road is the starkest example.
•
An attempt to establish the credibility of an Israeli claim to “Palestinian Transportational Contiguity”.
Strategic Infrastructures: The Road Grid
The Death of the Historic Routes Until the construction of the barrier, Jerusalem remained linked to its environs by roads .based on the ancient Biblical routes Three of the four routes that commenced at Jerusalem’s Old City – the Nablus Road, the Jericho Road and the Hebron Road – now end a few kilometers away, where they meet a .wall
Strategic Infrastructures: The Road Grid The Bi-national Road Grid Juxtaposition of the Israeli and Palestinian road :grids discloses •
The creation of distinct and separate roads for Israelis* and Palestinians in the same, overlapping geographical area.
•
Strategic road infrastructure geared to physically incorporate the three Settlement Blocs into Israel proper.
•
Upon completion of the Hizma-Az Za’ayyem partitioned road, the only road that will be shared by Israelis and West Bankers will be the Al Khadr-Migdal Oz segment of the Hebron Road.
•
With the exception of the sealed, partitioned Hizma-Az Za’ayyem road, Palestinian traffic is diverted to routes outside of East Jerusalem and the Settlement Blocs.
*
For the purposes of road access, the Palestinians of East Jerusalem are to be included in the definition of “Israeli”.
The Current State of Construction
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 The Completed Segments of the Barrier •
Of the 217 km. of barrier in Greater Jerusalem app. 86 km. have been completed.
•
The portions completed are primarily located in the urban or semi-urban built-up areas of East Jerusalem and its environs.
•
Consequently the impact of the barrier is already clearly felt by most of the population.
Segments of barrier completed:
app. 86 km.
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 The Segments of the Barrier Under Construction •
Of the 217 km. of barrier in Greater Jerusalem, app. 42 km. are currently under construction.
•
With the exception of construction on the southern flank of Anata, the construction is primarily located in the outlying Settlement Blocs.
Segments of barrier under construction:
app. 42 km.
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 The Pre-Construction Planned Barrier •
Of the 217 km. of barrier in Greater Jerusalem app. 89 km. have been approved )some subject to pending court proceedings(, yet the construction has not yet commenced..
•
The segments of the barrier where construction has not yet commenced are located exclusively on the perimeters of the Settlement Blocs.
Segments of pre-construction planned barrier: app. 89 km.
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 :The Completed Barrier
.km 86 :The Barrier Under Construction
.km 42 :The Pre-construction Planned Barrier
.km 89
Q:
Is it a wall or a fence?
.
A:
Both
?Wall or Fence The Wall •
Even the terminology relating to the barrier has given rise to polemical debate: is it a fence or a wall?
•
Most of the barrier is indeed a “fence system”, 40-70 meters wide, which includes double-fencing, electronic sensors, patrol roads, tracking paths, anti-vehicular ditches etc.
•
In places where the necessary 40-70 meters are not available – primarily in urban builtup areas and along major Israeli arteries - a wall, generally 9 meters high, is constructed.
The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are wall:
37 km
?Wall or Fence The Fence The segments of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem that are fence are located primarily: •
on the perimeters of the outlying Settlement Blocs.
•
on the semi-urban, semi-rural neighborhoods in the southeastern and northeastern fringes of East Jerusalem.
The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are fence:
180 km
?Wall or Fence Wall AND Fence
The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are wall: The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are fence:
37 km
180 km
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem: Provisional Conclusions
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :Security •
Physical barriers are a legitimate defensive measure in the war on terror, when used in the appropriate times and places.
•
The barrier in Greater Jerusalem has indeed contributed to a reduction of terror )though other factors – intelligence, exhaustion, and the political climate have made their own contributions(.
•
Given the close proximity of Israeli and Palestinian populations, there is no “good” route for the barrier. That said, the route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem discloses political motives that have little to do with operational considerations.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :Security •
Compelling issues raise questions concerning the efficacy of the barrier over time: - In order to be effective, and given its length and nature, the barrier will require resources and energies from Israel that may not be sustainable over time. - The detachment of the East Jerusalem from the West Bank, which is critical for the efficiency of the barrier, may well radicalize the close to 250,000 Palestinians entrapped on the “Israeli” side.
The Conclusions: Whatever its merits as a limited tactical tool )and it indeed has merits(, the route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem does not augur well, over time, for a non-violent equilibrium between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Humanitarian Dimension •
The current route of the barrier – detaching East Jerusalem from its environs, and cantonizing its periphery – has a detrimental humanitarian impact on virtually every walk of life: family ties, employment, economic viability, freedom of movement and worship, etc.
•
Nowhere has the existence of the barrier proved consistent with the dignified movement of people, goods and services.
•
These humanitarian issues, as well as the establishment of separate infrastructures based on national identity, are not, in the long run compatible with the democratic values of Israel.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Conclusions While streamlining the checkpoints and terminals may mitigate some of the negative impact of the barrier, and the creation of a “breathing” border regime, these cannot adequately address the humanitarian issues. In the long run, the current route of the barrier is not sustainable.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Political Dimension •
The current route of the barrier: - detaches East Jerusalem from the West Bank. - Dismembers the northern and southern halves of the West Bank. - cantonizes the Palestinian metropolitan area. - undermines the geographical integrity of the Palestinian West Bank. - incorporates 4% of the West Bank into Israel.
•
The cumulative impact of these discloses a perception whereby there is only one national collective in Greater Jerusalem, alongside a dismembered community comprised of individuals from whom any genuine right to self-determination is denied.
•
None of the above is compatible with the “two-state solution”, which requires a viable contiguous Palestinian state.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Conclusions •
The notion that the current route of the barrier, or some minor variation thereof, is the basis of a political resolution of the conflict is more a fantasy than a credible option.
•
The Israeli claim that the barrier is a reversible step has merit. Coupled with settlement activity within the barrier – thereby creating new facts on the ground – this claim loses much of its validity.
•
As a “stand-alone” product, the Greater Jerusalem barrier is incompatible with the “two-state solution”. Coupled with settlement activity inside the blocs, it may be the death knell of that solution.
•
The current route of the barrier makes it ever more imperative to effect a settlement freeze inside East Jerusalem and the settlement blocs.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem As approved by the Israeli Government in .…April 2006, and subject to the results of a number of cases… pending before the Israeli High Court of Justice, the most prominent of which :relate to the route of the barrier In the Ma’aleh Edumim Bloc * In the Etzion Bloc * Surrounding the Shuafat Refugee Camp * Surrounding Sheikh Sa’ad *
How We Define Greater Jerusalem Our definition of Greater Jerusalem is not arbitrary. It derives from the distinct metropolitan area designated by and included :in the route of the barrier, and specifically East Jerusalem The Givat Ze’ev Bloc The Etzion Bloc The Ma’aleh Edumim Bloc The Greater Jerusalem barrier consequently extends from a point immediately south of .Beit Surik, and to the north of Surif •
The length of the Israeli-Jordanian border between 1949-1967. border between these two points WAS 41 km.
•
The length of the barrier, as currently routed, between the same two points IS 217 km.
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier
Israeli Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier East Jerusalem Includes the Israeli :neighborhoods/settlements of Gilo Har Homa East Talpiot Ramot Eshkol/French Hill Ramot Reches Shuafat Pisgat Ze’ev Neve Yaacov Messianic Settlements within existing Palestinian )neighborhood )app. 2300 residents
Israeli Population:
app. 190,000
.Area Beyond Green line: app. 68 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Etzion Settlement Bloc :Includes the settlements of Efrata Kfar Etzion Migdal Oz Neve Daniel Gvaot Alon Shvut Elazar Bat Ayin Beitar Illit Rosh Tsurim
Israeli Population: app. 47,000 .Area:
app. 71 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Ma’aleh Edumim Settlement Bloc :Includes settlements of Ma’aleh Edumim Kfar Edumim Alon Almon Qedar
Israeli Population: app. 37,000 .Area:
app. 61 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Givat Ze’ev Settlement Bloc :Includes settlements of Givat Ze’ev Givon Har Shmuel Beit Horon
Israeli Population: app. 12,000 .Area:
app. 25 sq. km
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Total Israeli Population and Area Beyond the Green Line In Greater Jerusalem
Israeli Population: app. 286,000 .Area: app. 4% of the( )West Bank
app. 225 sq. km
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Municipal Boundary Concept The Rationale •
Much of the barrier is routed on or near the Jerusalem Municipal Boundary.
•
The route is based on two considerations, the first formal, the second subliminal: - This route is compatible with the Cabinet decision to separate Israel from the West Bank, since in the eyes of Israeli Law, East Jerusalem is Israel. - This route discloses an attempt to restore the credibility of “eternally-unitedJerusalem” after Camp David legitimized its political division.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Municipal Boundary Concept The Problematics •
This route is oblivious to three key factors: - The Municipal Boundary is recognized by no other nation but Israel itself. - The questions of borders and the status of Jerusalem are final status issues to be determined through negotiations, not by the route of a barrier. - Until the barrier, the Municipal Boundary was a largely fictitious line on a map, oblivious to the existing patterns of life. East Jerusalem Palestinians remained deeply connected in their everyday lives. On all flanks but the southern, the barrier separates Palestinian from Palestinian.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Demographic Concept The Rationale •
In two areas – the Shuafat Refugee CampAnata ridge and Kafr Aq’b, the route has been gerrymandered so as to exclude tens of thousands of Palestinians from Jerusalem.
•
The goal of this concept is to drastically reduce the numbers of Palestinians in the city, who were 25.5% of the population in 1967, and 34% today.
•
This concept was implemented only in places where there were additional considerations: - The desire to “get rid” of Jerusalem’s only refugee camp. - The physical proximity of Kafr Aqb to Ramallah.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Demographic Concept The Problematics •
The decision-makers were oblivious to two key, related factors in determining this route. - The border between East Jerusalem and the West Bank is also an economic one: West Bankers have a per capita GDP of app.$1150 per annum, with that of East Jerusalemites app. $4000 per annum. - The centers of life for the residents of the refugee camp – the work place, schools, hospitals, places of worship – are largely inside Jerusalem
*
In a classic example of “The Law of Unintended Consequences”, the demographic motivation of the barrier has caused tens of thousands of Palestinians to return to the city – and consequently the barrier has led to an increase in the number f actual Palestinian residents ling in East Jerusalem.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Greater Jerusalem Concept The Rationale •
Initially opposed to the barrier, Ariel Sharon came to see it as an opportunity to unilaterally determine the permanent border between Israel and Palestine, in coordination with the United States.
•
The route discloses an attempt to include as much land, and as few Palestinian residents in the three Settlement Blocs to the North, East and South of Jerusalem.
•
The goal is to establish an Israeli territorial sphere of influence not only in “united Jerusalem”, but in Greater Jerusalem.
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Greater Jerusalem Concept The Problematics The route disclosed by the “Greater Jerusalem Concept” creates major difficulties for any future political resolution of the conflict, and already has dire humanitarian ramifications. .We will deal with both these issues below
The Underlying Concepts Disclosed by the Route of the Barrier :The Final Route A Hybrid of Three Concepts The route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem is consequently a hybrid of three, not always compatible, concepts :being implemented simultaneously •
The Municipal Boundary Concept.
•
The Demographic Concept.
•
The Greater Jerusalem Concept.
The Impact of the Barrier on Palestinian Greater Jerusalem
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier East Jerusalem
The barrier detaches the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem from their natural and historic hinterland in the West .Bank Not being citizens of Israel, this detachment of these residents does not indicate the integration of Palestinian East Jerusalemites .into Israel
Palestinian Population: app. 225,000
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier The Primary Enclaves
The route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem, also entraps Palestinian residents of the West Bank inside the Israeli Settlement Blocs, most .in geographically distinct enclaves
Palestinian Population in the Primary :Enclaves Walajeh Enclave: app. 1700 Battir Enlave: app.11,000 Nahalin Enclave: app. 2500 In addition, Palestinian residents are entrapped within settlement blocs, outside clearly :defined enclaves
Ma’aleh Edumim Bloc: app. 3000 Givat Ze’ev Bloc: app. 200
Palestinian Population inside “Israeli” Settlement Blocs : 18,400
Areas Beyond the Green Line On the “Israeli” Side of the Barrier Secondary Enclaves In addition to Palestinians entrapped within the settlement blocs, the route of the Barrier creates secondary enclaves: areas completely .surrounded by the barrier or a secured road These areas are not on the “Israeli” side of the barrier, yet are detached from the Palestinian West Bank, except by means of a an :“umbilical cord”-like road or roads
Palestinian Population in the Secondary :Enclaves Bir Naballa: app. 15,000 Anata Enclave: app. 39,000
Total Population in Secondary Enclaves : app. 54,000
The Dismemberment of the West Bank The route of the Barrier, and the Settlement Blocs incorporated by it into the “Israeli” side, disrupt the contiguity of .the Palestinian West Bank Given the topography, this virtually dismembers the West Bank into two .cantons, the northern and the southern
The Cantonization of Greater Jerusalem Total Palestinian Population :Inside the Barrier In the Primary Enclaves: app. 15,200 ,Inside the Settlement Blocs but outside the enclaves: app. 3200 In East Jerusalem: app. 225,000
Total:
app. 243,400
Total Population on “Israeli” side of the :Barrier Palestinian - app. 243,400 Israeli app. 286,000 Palestinian Population inside the Secondary Enclaves:
app. 54,000
Strategic Infrastructures: the Barrier and the Road Grid
Strategic Infrastructures: the Road Grid The Israeli Road Grid The road grid in Greater Jerusalem is comprised of major arteries that incorporate the .Settlement Blocs into Israel •
Most of these roads, like Route No. 1 and the Tunnel Road, link the Blocs to Jerusalem, while Route 443 creates a Jerusalem-Tel Aviv link. Route No. 1 creates a Jerusalem- Jordan Valley link.
•
Most of these roads are not accessible to Palestinian residents of the West Bank.
•
Some, like the Beitar Illit Road and Route 443, serve as barriers, contributing to the cantonization of the Palestinian West Bank.
•
The Hizma-Az Za’ayyem road is walled, with Israeli traffic on the East, Palestinian on the West. creating a sealed 16-meter-wide conduit for Palestinian traffic through the Ma’aleh Edumim Settlement Bloc.
Strategic Infrastructures: The Road Grid The Palestinian Road Grid The Palestinian road grid discloses the :following goals •
Diversion of West Bank traffic around East Jerusalem, so that no West Bank resident may enter the city.
•
Creating patterns of movement whereby roads inside the Settlement Blocs will be devoid of Palestinian traffic. This, and the seal of East Jerusalem, divert Palestinian traffic to circuitous, sometimes torturous routes, like the Ramallah-Bethlehem Wadi Naar Route.
•
Creation of a road grid whereby Israelis and Palestinians travel on separate roads even, in the same limited geographical space. The segregated Hizma-Az Za’ayyem road is the starkest example.
•
An attempt to establish the credibility of an Israeli claim to “Palestinian Transportational Contiguity”.
Strategic Infrastructures: The Road Grid
The Death of the Historic Routes Until the construction of the barrier, Jerusalem remained linked to its environs by roads .based on the ancient Biblical routes Three of the four routes that commenced at Jerusalem’s Old City – the Nablus Road, the Jericho Road and the Hebron Road – now end a few kilometers away, where they meet a .wall
Strategic Infrastructures: The Road Grid The Bi-national Road Grid Juxtaposition of the Israeli and Palestinian road :grids discloses •
The creation of distinct and separate roads for Israelis* and Palestinians in the same, overlapping geographical area.
•
Strategic road infrastructure geared to physically incorporate the three Settlement Blocs into Israel proper.
•
Upon completion of the Hizma-Az Za’ayyem partitioned road, the only road that will be shared by Israelis and West Bankers will be the Al Khadr-Migdal Oz segment of the Hebron Road.
•
With the exception of the sealed, partitioned Hizma-Az Za’ayyem road, Palestinian traffic is diverted to routes outside of East Jerusalem and the Settlement Blocs.
*
For the purposes of road access, the Palestinians of East Jerusalem are to be included in the definition of “Israeli”.
The Current State of Construction
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 The Completed Segments of the Barrier •
Of the 217 km. of barrier in Greater Jerusalem app. 86 km. have been completed.
•
The portions completed are primarily located in the urban or semi-urban built-up areas of East Jerusalem and its environs.
•
Consequently the impact of the barrier is already clearly felt by most of the population.
Segments of barrier completed:
app. 86 km.
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 The Segments of the Barrier Under Construction •
Of the 217 km. of barrier in Greater Jerusalem, app. 42 km. are currently under construction.
•
With the exception of construction on the southern flank of Anata, the construction is primarily located in the outlying Settlement Blocs.
Segments of barrier under construction:
app. 42 km.
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 The Pre-Construction Planned Barrier •
Of the 217 km. of barrier in Greater Jerusalem app. 89 km. have been approved )some subject to pending court proceedings(, yet the construction has not yet commenced..
•
The segments of the barrier where construction has not yet commenced are located exclusively on the perimeters of the Settlement Blocs.
Segments of pre-construction planned barrier: app. 89 km.
The Physical State of the Barrier May 2008 :The Completed Barrier
.km 86 :The Barrier Under Construction
.km 42 :The Pre-construction Planned Barrier
.km 89
Q:
Is it a wall or a fence?
.
A:
Both
?Wall or Fence The Wall •
Even the terminology relating to the barrier has given rise to polemical debate: is it a fence or a wall?
•
Most of the barrier is indeed a “fence system”, 40-70 meters wide, which includes double-fencing, electronic sensors, patrol roads, tracking paths, anti-vehicular ditches etc.
•
In places where the necessary 40-70 meters are not available – primarily in urban builtup areas and along major Israeli arteries - a wall, generally 9 meters high, is constructed.
The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are wall:
37 km
?Wall or Fence The Fence The segments of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem that are fence are located primarily: •
on the perimeters of the outlying Settlement Blocs.
•
on the semi-urban, semi-rural neighborhoods in the southeastern and northeastern fringes of East Jerusalem.
The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are fence:
180 km
?Wall or Fence Wall AND Fence
The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are wall: The segments of the Greater Jerusalem .barrier that are fence:
37 km
180 km
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem: Provisional Conclusions
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :Security •
Physical barriers are a legitimate defensive measure in the war on terror, when used in the appropriate times and places.
•
The barrier in Greater Jerusalem has indeed contributed to a reduction of terror )though other factors – intelligence, exhaustion, and the political climate have made their own contributions(.
•
Given the close proximity of Israeli and Palestinian populations, there is no “good” route for the barrier. That said, the route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem discloses political motives that have little to do with operational considerations.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :Security •
Compelling issues raise questions concerning the efficacy of the barrier over time: - In order to be effective, and given its length and nature, the barrier will require resources and energies from Israel that may not be sustainable over time. - The detachment of the East Jerusalem from the West Bank, which is critical for the efficiency of the barrier, may well radicalize the close to 250,000 Palestinians entrapped on the “Israeli” side.
The Conclusions: Whatever its merits as a limited tactical tool )and it indeed has merits(, the route of the barrier in Greater Jerusalem does not augur well, over time, for a non-violent equilibrium between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Humanitarian Dimension •
The current route of the barrier – detaching East Jerusalem from its environs, and cantonizing its periphery – has a detrimental humanitarian impact on virtually every walk of life: family ties, employment, economic viability, freedom of movement and worship, etc.
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Nowhere has the existence of the barrier proved consistent with the dignified movement of people, goods and services.
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These humanitarian issues, as well as the establishment of separate infrastructures based on national identity, are not, in the long run compatible with the democratic values of Israel.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Conclusions While streamlining the checkpoints and terminals may mitigate some of the negative impact of the barrier, and the creation of a “breathing” border regime, these cannot adequately address the humanitarian issues. In the long run, the current route of the barrier is not sustainable.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Political Dimension •
The current route of the barrier: - detaches East Jerusalem from the West Bank. - Dismembers the northern and southern halves of the West Bank. - cantonizes the Palestinian metropolitan area. - undermines the geographical integrity of the Palestinian West Bank. - incorporates 4% of the West Bank into Israel.
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The cumulative impact of these discloses a perception whereby there is only one national collective in Greater Jerusalem, alongside a dismembered community comprised of individuals from whom any genuine right to self-determination is denied.
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None of the above is compatible with the “two-state solution”, which requires a viable contiguous Palestinian state.
The Route of the Barrier in Greater Jerusalem Interim Conclusions :The Conclusions •
The notion that the current route of the barrier, or some minor variation thereof, is the basis of a political resolution of the conflict is more a fantasy than a credible option.
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The Israeli claim that the barrier is a reversible step has merit. Coupled with settlement activity within the barrier – thereby creating new facts on the ground – this claim loses much of its validity.
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As a “stand-alone” product, the Greater Jerusalem barrier is incompatible with the “two-state solution”. Coupled with settlement activity inside the blocs, it may be the death knell of that solution.
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The current route of the barrier makes it ever more imperative to effect a settlement freeze inside East Jerusalem and the settlement blocs.
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