The Wall

Described as a security fence whose insinuated function was to deter Palestinian attacks against Israelis. As I approached it in various locations: Bethlehem, Bethel, Jerusalem, it's other purpose became more clear as I observed its construction and examined maps of the barrier's ultimate path through Palestine. It seems to be more of an "imprisonment wall" than anything else.

The original idea of the wall was promoted by Israeli moderates as a way of preventing inevitable attacks after the withdrawal of Israel's military forces. The first barrier, which surrounded Gaza, proved that it was a deterrent, in that there was a substantial decline in raids. The plan was to continue construction of the barricade along the border between Israel and the West Bank.

Instead though, the governments of Sharon and Olmert built the wall mainly within Plestinian territory, intruding deeply into the West Bank to encircle Israeli settlement zones and large areas of other Palestinian land.

This is the kicker: It is projected to be at least three and a half times as long as Israel's internationally recognized border and already cuts through Palestinian villages, and divides families fromt their gardens.
We were taken to a part of the wall in Bethany (where Lazerus arose from the grave), and saw that a wall had been built through a families home, so that the mom had to commute several hours to get to her daughters house, which was 50 feet away!

In addition to the concrete electrified fencing materials used in the construction, the barrier includes two-meter-deep trenches, roads for patrol vehicles, electronic ground fence sensors, thermal imaging and video cameras, sniper towers, and razor wire-almost entirely in Palestinian land!
I was trying to get shots of the wall, and got a little too close because I looked up at the sniper tower and the window slowly opened. The adrenaline was definetely flowing. I scurried away.
Now, if you don't believe what I saw, the International Court of Justice (the UN Justice arm) conducted a review of the wall and in 2004 concluded that the built wall was illegal. The court called on Israel to cease construction of the wall, to dismantle what has already been built in areas within the occupied Palestinian territory, and to compensate Palestinians that have suffered losses.
Israeli Supreme Court has chosen not to accept the IC decision, but acknowledged that Israel holds the West Bank "in belligerent occupation" and that "the law of belligernt occupation imposes these conditions.

With control of East Jerusalem, with relative security from the wall surrounding what is left of the West Bank, with thousands of remaining settlers east of the wall protected by strong occupying forces, there is a temptation for some Israelis to simply avoid any further efforts to seek a peace agreement.

Again, it's a dangerous thing to back someone with your fist into a corner when the person has a shotgun. With ensuing attacks on its civilians and and its very identity as a nation, it's no blaim that they would argue doing anything to protect themselves. However, this wall is a huge detriment towards the path to peace. Most heads of state and legitimate NGOs have vehemently opposed this wall, so its not my words but the rationality of analysts and diplomats further informed than I that have made the case.

I read a lot about it, but actually seeing this massive wall really frightened me. Israel has every right to protect itself, but its absurd policies on this wall only add to the onslaught of counterproductivity on both sides.