Saving Lives: Israel's
Security Fence
Source : Government of Israel,
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0o3l0
November 2003
* The security fence would not have
been needed had there been no terrorism against innocent
Israelis.
* The fence is not a border. The
border will be determined by negotiations.
* The Palestinians will not be cut
off from their fields, places of commerce and urban
centers.
* The terrorists target their
victims for death. Death is irreversible. Inconveniences caused
by the fence are reversible.
* The right to live free from
terrorism must take precedence.
* A legitimate temporary security
measure, the fence will help to end terror and restore calm -
steps that are necessary for renewing the peace
process.
More than 900 people were murdered in attacks carried out by
Palestinian terrorists since late September 2000.
Thousands of Israelis have been injured, many of the victims
maimed for life. The terrorists infiltrated Israeli cities and
towns and carried out attacks - including suicide bombings - on
buses, in restaurants, shopping malls, and even private
homes.
No other nation in the world has before this time faced such
an intense wave of terror, especially in the form of suicide
bombings.
In almost all of the cases, the terrorists infiltrated from
Palestinian areas in the West Bank. The Palestinian leadership
has done nothing to stop them and has even encouraged them.
WHAT?
* The security fence - a temporary
defensive measure, not a border
* A fence, not a
"wall"
As a result of the unceasing terror, Israel decided to erect
a physical barrier. The absence of such a barrier makes
infiltration into Israeli communities a relatively easy task
for terrorists. No terrorists have infiltrated from the Gaza
Strip into Israel in recent years, because an electronic
security fence already exists there.
The Government of Israel has an obligation to defend its
citizens against terrorism. This right of self-defense is
anchored in international law.
The security fence will not annex Palestinian lands, change
the legal status of the Palestinians, nor prevent the
Palestinians from going about their daily lives. It will not
establish a border, which is to be determined by direct
negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Despite the many pictures being shown in the international
media of a tall concrete wall, more than 97% of the planned 720
km. (480 mile) security fence will consist of a chain-link
fence system. Less than 3% of the fence will be constructed of
concrete. The short concrete sections are intended not only to
stop terrorists from infiltrating, but also to block them from
shooting at Israeli vehicles traveling on main highways
alongside the pre-June 1967 line.
The security fence forms a strip approximately the width of
a four-lane highway. At its center is the chain-link fence that
supports an intrusion detection system. This technologically
advanced system is designed to warn against infiltrations, as
is the dirt "tracking" path and other observation tools.
WHEN?
The decision to build the security fence was taken only
after other options were tried, but failed to stop the deadly
terrorist attacks.
Despite its numerous commitments, the Palestinian Authority
has failed to fight terrorism. The obligations that were
violated by the Palestinian Authority were contained in the
Oslo Accords and subsequent agreements, as well as in the
Roadmap that was presented to the sides in May 2003.
Had there been no terrorism, Israel would not have been
compelled to build a fence to protect its citizens.
The Palestinians must dismantle the terrorist organizations,
confiscate weapons, arrest the planners and perpetrators of
terrorist acts, stop incitement and resume security cooperation
with Israel; all these steps are required by the Roadmap. These
measures are imperative for renewing the peace process.
WHERE?
* Black - sections of the fence
already built
The route of the fence has been determined solely on the
basis of security needs and topographical considerations.
The fence is being built in such a way that, if necessary,
the relevant parts can be moved to different locations. In this
context, it will be remembered that when Israel withdrew from
southern Lebanon, in fulfillment of UN Security Council
Resolution 425, the UN delineated the border between Israel and
Lebanon. Israel moved its security fence, sometimes only a few
meters, to comply with the new border.
Israel has made the use of public lands a priority in
building the security fence, in order to avoid, as much as
possible, the use of private lands. If this is not possible,
then private land is requisitioned, not confiscated, and it
remains the property of the owner. Legal procedures allow every
owner to file an objection to the use of their land. When
private lands are used, owners are offered full compensation,
in accordance with the law; this compensation is offered both
as a lump sum and also on a monthly basis.
HOW?
* Taking into consideration
Palestinian humanitarian needs
In addition to its efforts to ensure the security of its
citizens, Israel attaches considerable importance to the
interests of the local Palestinian residents. Israel recognizes
the necessity of finding an appropriate balance between the
imperative need to prevent terrorism and defend its citizens,
and the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians.
Most Palestinians will be on the eastern side of the fence.
They will not be cut off from their commercial and urban
centers. No Palestinians will have to relocate. Israel will
make every effort to avoid causing hardship and interference
with their daily lives.
Dozens of crossing points have been set up to enable the
movement of people and goods. The security fence was located,
to the greatest possible degree, on unused land to avoid
harming agriculture. Palestinian farmers will have access to
their fields and will reach them through special gates that are
being built into the fence. Trees affected by the construction
will be replanted.
WHY?
*
Saving lives must always come
first!
The security fence has only one purpose: to keep the
terrorists out and thereby save the lives of Israel's citizens,
Jews and Arabs alike.
The security fence is not an obstacle to peace, as the
Palestinians are trying to portray it. In fact, by providing a
barrier to terrorism, it will help restore quiet to the region
and thereby increase the chances of achieving peace. It will
not create permanent facts on the ground that will affect the
outcome of negotiations.
The Palestinians seek to blame Israel, the victim of
terrorism that is taking a purely defensive measure. Moreover,
they ignore the hundreds of innocent victims murdered by
Palestinian terrorism emanating from the West Bank. There would
have been no need for a security fence had there not been an
orchestrated campaign of terrorism that targets Israeli men,
women and children for death. Death is permanent. It is
irreversible. The inconvenience caused to Palestinians by the
security fence is temporary and reversible, once terrorism
stops and peace is achieved.
Copyright © 1999 State of Israel. All rights
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