Separation barrier a threat to the environment

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Both Jewish settlers and Israeli and Palestinian activists are joining together to try and stop this barrier from being constructed through the sensitive area of Wadi Qelt east of Jerusalem. It could do irreversible damage to the land and the wildlife.

Gazelles, hyenas and foxes drink from this stream which is a vital source of water for them.

As reported by the Oakland Press:

"This is the first time in the history of the land of Israel in which you take land that has been one land ... geographically and naturally, and divide it with a physical barrier that is meant to prevent the passage of anything larger than a rat," said Avraham Shaked, regional coordinator in Jerusalem for Israel's Society for the Protection of Nature. "This damages the connectivity that is one of the elements that many species rely on."

Even though each group oppose the barrier for different reasons they joined together to oppose this barrier.

The barrier consists of concrete walls and electronic fences. It is to be 490 miles when finished and is now two-thirds of the way completed. It won't be too long until Israel will lay the 7.5 mile stretch that will crisscross Wadi Qelt. It will destroy the canyon in the rocky Judean Desert that is near the Dead Sea.

This area dates back to biblical times when there were monks and prophets that sought refuge in Wadi Qelt's caves when they fled from the Romans. The area was shared with leopards, wolves and eagles. It is the area where it is believed that John the Baptist preached from.

It is now one of the few remaining places where there are wild animals still roaming freely.

But now according to environmental activists the very survival of the wild animals is in jeopardy.

Wadi Qelt lies in one of the most contested regions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel hopes to hold onto the area in any peace deal with the Palestinians and plans to extend the barrier to encompass the nearby Maaleh Adumim settlement bloc. The loop feeds Palestinian suspicions that the barrier is a cover to grab West Bank land they want for a state.

Court orders have been won by wildlife advocates to suspend the work on several sections. Openings that have been made in the fence to supposedly allow the animals to get to their feeding grounds and water are too small for even a fox to get through.

The wildlife advocates are asking that surveillance cameras be used to secure the Wadi Qelt section.

Imad Atrash, executive director of the Palestine Wildlife Society, says it's tough to persuade Palestinians to worry about wild animals at a time when the barrier is making it hard, if not impossible, for thousands of people to reach their farmlands, jobs and services. He says he appeals to their patriotism, telling them "we are going to protect our nature for the Palestinians."

As Roee Simon, a settler and environmental activist, watched two gazelles grazing he predicts that the barrier will destroy it all.

The route that is purposed for the barrier in the Wadi Qelt area would encompass the main spring of the stream and animals that are on the West Bank side would be cut off from the water.

The Israeli-Palestinian branch of Friends of the Earth in the Wadi Fukin area of the central West Bank, have succeeded in getting Israel's Supreme Court to halt work on the barrier. They claimed that the natural springs would be destroyed by the barrier.


The 3,000 Arabs need the springs to irrigate their crops. The dozens of wild animals need the water to survive also.

Most of the barrier is being constructed of fortified fencing.
When it is near populated areas it then becomes a 26- foot high concrete wall. Because of this most Palestinians call the "fence" The Wall.

According to the World Court it is called a gross violation of international law and basic human rights.