Photos
01-02
Jaayush
is one of many West Bank villages near the Green Line that will
lose most or all of their agricultural land as a result of the erection
of the barrier. In addition, Jaayush will lose most of its groundwater
wells. Irrigation of the remaining land will thus be made impossible.
Israel claims that
the barrier is solely meant to prevent suicidebombers from entering
Israel from the West Bank and that the location of the fence is
dictated by topography – i.e. that the route is planned
in such a way as to provide maximum security to Israel.
However, this claim
has been disputed by observers on both sides. Most importantly,
in many places the barrier actually runs through low points in
the landscape – a fact in obvious conflict with the claim
that maximum security is the only concern. |
|
|
Photo 03:
Westward view from Jaayush. The route of the future
barrier (running north-south) can be seen in the lower right-hand
corner of this picture. The red roofs of the Israeli town of Kokhav
Yair is visible in the distance (app. 3 km) on the left-hand side
of the picture, mid-way up the vertical axis. Kokhav lies exactly
on the Green Line. Jaayush will lose all of the land between the
fence and the Green Line. |
|
|
| Photo
04: In some cases, the Palestinian farmers affected
by the barrier do not only lose their land. In addition, the Israeli
contractor carrying out the work on the ground takes the uprooted
trees to Israel where he sells them to Israeli farmers, who replant
them. Alternatively, the trees are sold as lumber. This olive tree
however has been replanted by its original owner in front of his
house. |
|
|
| Photos
05-11: In most places the separation barrier consists
or will consist of an electrified fence. In some places however,
for instance around the city of Qalqiliya, it takes the form of
an eight meter high concrete wall. When finished, the wall will
all but surround Qalqiliya. A tiny bottleneck on the eastern side
of the city guarded by an Israeli checkpoint will be the only entrance/exit.
|
|
|
