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Palestine Chronicle: Israel's 'Wall' and Why It's Not a 'Fence'

Israelis claim that since most of the length of the 'Wall' is made up of barbed wide, it should be called a 'fence' .."


By RAY HANANIA
The Palestine Chronicle

The Palestinians call it the Wall. Israelis cleverly give it a softer spin as "the fence." Palestinians say it's intended to destroy Palestine. The Israelis hide their reasons for building it behind the broad claim that it will somehow prevent "terrorism."

This week, I had a chance to understand the "Wall" close-up, described in detailed photographs and personal testimonies from three Palestinians who spoke at the Palestinian American Congress conference in Chicago.

And what I learned about the Wall shocked even me.

Mohammed Alatar, a member of Palestinians for Peace and Democracy in Dallas, Texas, presented a lengthy Power-Point display on the true insidious nature of the Wall. (By the way. Alatar's poignant power point presentation is on my web page at www.hanania.com and you can download your own copy and see it for yourself.)

Let me address the issue of the word "fence" head on. Israelis claim that since most of the length of the "Wall" is made up of barbed wide, electrical wire and a fence, it should be called a "fence." But my response is simple. So what? Many of the concentration camps erected by the Nazis during World War II were bordered not by walls, but by fences, too. Does it make it any more innocent?