Israel begins its West Bank 'Berlin Wall'

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 06/17/2002 | Alan Philps

[Torie]

Heck, even I could penetrate that poor excuse for a fence. In any event, it is about time.

[gitmo]

I used to live in Guantanamo. That fence gave both sides a little sense of security.

[JLS]

What BOGUS healine! The Berlin wall was meant to keep the population of a country and and city from getting out. I thought these lefties wanted a Pale state? States have borders between them.

It is about time the Israelis recognized that those people living there are the enemy and foreign to Israel and treat them as aliens. They can not come bomb Israel if Israel establishes a border between them. That would also defacto give the Pale's a state and then IF they continue to attack Israel, Israel is within its rights to go take out the government, ie Arafat!

[JLS]

oops make that headline.

[Torie]

I think it was just an inane shot of a fence found someplace.

[thucydides]

Many objectionable phrases in this left-slanting article. However, when it comes to "messianic fervor," a term intended to discredit the proponents of the protective fence, that term would better be applied to the incredible self - delusionary Oslo "peace process," which in spite of all the evidence to the contrary from the very first day, was believed by the Israeli and Jewish left to be about to usher in a millenial state of peace.

[Jorge]

The "Berlin Wall"??? Excuse me?

Since when is building a wall to protect your population from the influx of maniacs who attack and murder them almost daily.... the moral equivalent to the Berlin Wall which was built for the purpose of imprisoning an entire population and preventing them from seeking freedom?

The moral confusion of the British press is amazing.

[thucydides]

I don't think that is the fence, but rather the location where a fence will be. From the green paint, I suppose this is the old "green line" which marked part of the 1967 borders.

[LadyAustin]

I suspect that's the current "fence" which a real security fence is going to replace. I'm sure it'll look more like the border fence between Israel and Lebanon, which is very high-tech.

[monkeyshine]

You are the biggest fence proponent on FR. I don't think that green picket fence in the picture is the actual fence. That wouldn't make any sense.

[Torie]

No. I was joking.

[monkeyshine]

I used to live in Guantanamo. That fence gave both sides a little sense of security.

I'm sure the mine field gave you boys a little more sense of security!

[Askel5]

Since when is building a wall to protect your population

In your territory or someone else's?

[monkeyshine]

I can't really figure out where the left is coming from. Why the anger at a fence? Obviously the fence is meant as some sort of defensive measure. It may end up being a permanent border, and it may work to defuse the tension.

Why imply that it's a prison for Palestinians? If the Israelis and Palestinians came to a peace deal tomorrow, there would surely be a border. Why is one side of the border considered "a prison"? It's asinine, and typical of the disatisfaction of the left and the Arabists. Nothing is ever good enough for them.

The comparison between the "whites" and the "blacks" is also asinine and incredibly insulting not only to whites and blacks, but to themselves (brown?). They can make what they can make of their semi-state. So far they have chosen to make nothing of it, except to fight for that nothingness. If they think they are "the blacks" (whatever that means), then it's their own damn fault for following a regime of terror and incitement and doing next to nothing to improve their lot in life.

[monkeyshine]

It's disputed territory according to the Israelis, and according to many Palestinians it's all theirs, including Israel itself. There is no place to build that fence without upsetting someone. It seems somewhat generous that Israel isn't slicing out every inch they possibly can, choosing to not protect certain settlements. It seems likely to me that this fence will end up being the border. I can't see how it's not going to be considered a defacto unilateral withdrawal. If they spun it right, the Palestinians can call it a victory, but it's obvious they won't.

[Torie]

Force of habit I suspect. Yes, it is ALL nonsense. The fence is the only route to a compassionate defense by Israel of itself. It really is a moral imperative, and to not build it, and continue on the other road, indefensible and immoral. I would enjoy watching a talk show where the usual suspects started bashing the fence. In fact, I would like to participate in such a talk show. :)

[LarryLied]

What is the fun of building a fence if you don't do all you can to annoy the neighbors? Of course you put it a little over the line. If you don't ask you don't get and you can always take less.

[Alouette]

It was described by Palestinian spokesmen as entrenching South African-style apartheid.

As opposed to the vision of a Palestinian state, which embodies Judenrein, Jew-free National socialism.