Aspects of the Israeli Barrier

May 2010

Shaul Arieli

www.shaularieli.com

Israel78%

Palestine22%

Egypt

Syria

Jordan

LebanonSize

Land Of Israel/Palestine-28,000 sq.km

PopulationIsrael- Jews- 5.5 Arabs- 1.3

W.B+G.S- Arabs-3.6 Jews- 0.5

Mediterranean Sea

The Security zones approach

The containment approach

Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and the

West Bank - 2009Settleme

nts Settlers

Governmental 74 426,000

National-religious 67 81,000

Total141 507,000

Is it possible to sign a permanent status agreement that maintains these security

approaches?

West Bank

Israel

Jerusalem

• Threat of terror: more than 1400 Israeli civilians killed since October of 2000.

• Economic protection measure: GDP per-capita in Israel is $26,300 compared to $940 for Palestinians.

• Demographic threats: influx of 160,000 illegal immigrants into Israel from the territories and Arab countries.

Contributing Factors to the Building of the Seam Zone

Official Objective

“The plan for the Seam Area was designed as one component in the war against terror by reducing the ability of terrorists from the areas of the Palestinian Authority to infiltrate into Israel.”

*from the Hebrew-version website of the Ministry of Defense

Israeli BarrierDecember 2002 Route

West Bank

Israel Jerusalem

Political Aim of the Barrier

To influence the determination of the permanent border of Israel “in the absence of a partner” through a policy based on settlements and security claims.

Disengagement plan from Gaza and

northern Samaria

Strengthening Israeli

presence

Strengthening Israeli

presence

Separation of the fabric of life

Separation of the fabric of life

International pressure

Fix the route of the northern West Bank barrier(2004)

Taba

Israel

Palestine

Palestine

ComparisonCompleted barrier- Geneva Initiative