June 2004
Israel's controversial security fence is dividing much more than just the land itself. Even in Israel, there's a wide range of opinion as to whether the wall is justified.
Hani Amer's property lies between two walls. On one side an 8m-high concrete wall cuts him off from his village. On the other, a wire fence separates him from the Israeli settlement. "We see nobody and nobody sees us like in jail. The wall grabbed the land and grabbed us with it," explains Hani's son. Losing land has, for many, meant the loss of livelihoods. Villagers in Mas Ha claim they've lost 97% of their land. But they're not the only people protesting. A small band of young Israelis regularly joins them to campaign against the wall. At one protest, an activist is shot by an Israeli soldier. "Is this security? Shooting at us?" questions one activist in disbelief. Whilst these Israelis are in a minority, even the fence's supporters accept that it should have been built along existing borders. "If they had built it on the armistice line, no one would have opposed it," states Israeli Zvi Ginsberg. Unfortunately, it's planned route means that for Palestinians like Hani, the wall spells only disaster. As Hani's wife confides: "When I look at the wall, I feel the world has ended."
Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures
28 сен 2024
