Backgrounder: Israeli Security Fence

In response to the growing suicide bombings and other attacks by Palestinian militants against its civilians, Israel decided to construct a security fence near the Green Line to prevent Palestinian militants from infiltrating into Israel.

As of April 2006, 335 km of the security fence have been completed and are operational, according to Israeli Ministry of Defense. The Israeli cabinet then decided to change the route of the security fence in several areas.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert termed the changes as very important and stated that to complete the security fence as quickly as possible is of crucial importance in the war against Palestinian militants' attacks.

The security fence program was first approved by the Israeli government in July 2001, as a means to prevent illegal entry into Israel. Then it became apparent that the ability to stop illegal entry into Israel depended on the existence of a contiguous obstacle.

Accordingly, the original security fence plan underwent modifications based on the principle of continuity and was approved by the government in June 2002.

In its ruling on June 30, 2004 the Israeli Supreme Court stated that the security fence was built for reasons of national security. The ruling demanded, however, proportionality between humanitarian and operational considerations.

The security barrier generally runs along or near the Green Line, but diverges in many places to include on the Israeli side several of the highly populated areas of Jewish settlements in the West Bank such as East Jerusalem, Ariel, Gush Etzion, Maale Adumim etc.

Israeli security experts argued that the topography does not permit putting the fence along the Green Line in some places, since hills or tall buildings on the Palestinian side might make the barrier ineffective.

However, International Court of Justice (ICJ) has countered that in such cases it is only legal to build the barrier inside Israel.

In its advisory decision in July 2004, the Hague-based ICJ ruled that Israel violated international law in the routing of the security fence and urged Israel to dismantle sections built in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Also in July 2004, the U.N. General Assembly adopted overwhelmingly a resolution demanding Israel comply with the ICJ non-binding ruling.

However, Israeli government rejected both the ruling and the General Assembly resolution, vowing to continue building the security fence.

According to Israeli statistics, the barrier has successfully reduced the number of Palestinian infiltrations and suicide bombings as well as other attacks on civilians in Israel.

Israeli officials asserted that completion of the barrier would make it even more effective in stopping these attacks.

Source: Xinhua