Mat's+Editorial

Mathew Ferreira Mrs. Wood Eastern Civ H 24 May 2012 West Bank Wall

 Throughout history there have been many disagreements or problems between countries and people. Many times each side are able to come to an agreement, however sometimes one side may attempt to take issues into their own hands and try to solve things on there own. This is the case with the issue involving the West Bank Wall. Israel decided to take their issues between themselves and Palestine into their own hands and construct a wall to separate the two parties. The barrier is built mainly in the West Bank and partly along the 1949 Armistice line, or "Green Line". This barrier is completely illegal and wrong in many ways.  The Construction of the West Bank Wall has affected many families and children’s schooling within these countries. Many families due to the construction of this wall are forced to be separated. They are no longer able to cross over to the other side; therefore families are forced to be away from each other if they happen to live on the opposite side of the wall. The productivity of schools along the West Bank wall has also come to an abrupt halt. Many kids are unable to attend school due to the location and dangers they face on the way to school. This is a huge problem that has to be dealt with rapidly. The construction of this barrier has negatively impacted these communities in more ways than one.  The construction of the West Bank Wall has also had a big impact on the economy with in these two parties as well. According to the Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD) and other sources, much of Qalqilyah's farmland now lie outside the barrier, and farmers require permits from Israeli authorities to access their lands that are on the opposite side. However there are three gates that allow these farmers to tend to their fields that are open three times a day for a total of 50 minutes. These gates have been closed since 2004 due to attacks near this area. Many people have lost their jobs and have faced poverty due to the construction of the wall. The economy once thriving tremendously in this area has taken a tremendous detour since the construction of this barrier.  Much of the land in which the West Bank Wall is constructed is seized from the Palestinians. In early 2003, 63 shops along the green line were demolished by the IDF during construction of the wall in the village of Nazlat Issa. In August 2003, an additional 115 shops and stalls, an important source of income for several communities, and five to seven homes there were also demolished. According to the United Nations Relief and Woks Agency (UNRWA), 15 communities were to be directly affected, numbering approximately 138,593 Palestinians. In addition to loss of land, in the city of Qalqilyah one-third of the city's water wells lie on the other side of the barrier. The loss of land has affected the Palestinians tremendously in a negative way.  The construction of the West Bank Wall continues to be looked upon as an illegal, immoral act that needs to come to a stop. Many families are being separated from one another and innocent civilians are being directly impacted by the construction of this barrier. It has been a detriment to society in Palestine and has not been benefited the people because attacks are still continuing to occur. The construction of the wall is completely unfair and violates international law. If the construction of the West Bank Wall does not come to a stop, many more lives will be lost and Palestine as a country will die as well.