Israeli barrier, A Canvas of Conflict and Hope

Israeli West Bank barrier, Beit Sahur, West Bank, Area C, Judea and Samaria, 353, Palestinian Territories

The other half of Palestine is covered in graffiti

4.3

Introduction

In Bethlehem, one can see the 700-kilometer long separation wall built by Israel. The wall, which is up to three to four stories tall and made of steel and concrete, is primarily used to isolate Palestinian territories and prevent terrorist attacks. The wall is covered in Peace graffiti. The wall is mainly built along the "Green Line" known from Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Palestinian analysts believe that the wall is a cover-up excuse for Israel's annexation of Palestinian territories and call for comprehensive condemnation by the international community. On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that Israel's construction of the separation wall violates international law and demanded that the already built separation wall be dismantled. However, the Israeli government thinks it is a political issue rather than a legal issue and believes that the International Court of Justice has no right to rule, and so far has refused to implement the dismantlement resolution. Although the Israeli government has made adjustments to some sections of the separation wall, the entire wall has not been dismantled.