Deutsche Welle, 2 November 2012
The West
Bank barrier is blocking animal migration between Israel and the Palestinian
territories. But now, the Israeli Defence Force is seeking ways to allow
animals to get over - or even through - the wall.
Hundreds of
kilometres of concrete, iron and barbed wire cut through the West Bank, across
deserts, over mountains and through forests. Israelis call it a security fence
while Palestinians call it a racial separation wall.
But,
whatever your politics, it's plain to see that the barrier is an impassable
structure which cuts a substantial visual scar across the landscape. Pass
through any of the main checkpoints with their vast security system of cameras,
scanners and iron gates, and it becomes clear just how difficult it is to move
from one side to the other.
Spare a
thought then for the wildlife in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
 |
| Israeli troops take position along part of Israel's separation barrier |
Cut off
from feeding grounds
Imad Atrash
is the Palestine Wildlife Society Executive Director and says the barrier
divides animal families. In an interview with DW, he explained that before the
barrier was built, between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the red fox population was
separated by a fence. "The male was on the Israeli side and the female was
inside Palestinian lands," he said. "The male dug a hole and came to
the female."
 |
| A hydrax, or rock rabbit, sits near the West Bank barrier |
But then
the West Bank barrier was built. "How many families of animals were
separated in the West Bank?" Atrash asked.
Israeli
ecologist Ron Frumkin says the barrier has had a significant impact on local
species of gazelle, ibex, fox, porcupine and badger. He said splitting animal
families often results in genetic mutation and inbreeding.
"Many
animals that live here, need their habitats, or breeding and feeding
areas," he said. "They can eat in one place but hide in another
place. So animals, especially the bigger ones, need open space for their
existence."
 |
| The wall blocks animals that breed in one place and feed in another |
Frumkin's
reports on the ecological impact of the barrier have made it to Israel's High
Court. They were instrumental in overturning a plan from the Ministry of
Defence to extend the barrier in southern West Bank. There, the ibex needs to
move between the vegetation of the high places in the winter to the water
source of the oases in the summer. According to Frumkin, construction of the
barrier could have wiped the creatures out altogether.
Frumkin
explained that the barrier interrupts ecological corridors - pieces of land
that connect nature reserve habitats. Unfortunately, it's too late for one
section of the barrier, which divides north and south.
"The
fence prevents all animals along the Judean Mountains in the south to move
toward the Samaria mountains in the north, and later on to the Carmel
Mountains," Frumkin told DW. He added that the barrier also harms plants
that depend on animals to help disperse pollen and seeds.
 |
| The Israeli army is opening parts of the wall to allow small animals to migrate |
Court
supports animal protection
Court
rulings against Israel's Ministry of Defence in recent years have resulted in a
significant slowing down on the barrier's construction. The army now works with
environmental organizations to find solutions to allow small animals to pass
from Israel into the Palestinian territories and back again. It has created
zigzag passes in places to facilitate the passage of small wildlife.
Nobody
knows yet exactly the scope of the ecological damage on both sides of the
barrier. Imad Atrash from the Palestine Wildlife Society says his group is
working with the University of Kent to obtain funding for a three year study on
the impact of the West Bank barrier on local wildlife. He hopes that
Palestinian and Israeli environmental organizations will work together on the
research in future.
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“… Let us
talk about the swords: When you hear the word sword, the first thing that
occurs to you is battle. The Bridge of Swords is a battle and we told you that
as well. Swords are metaphoric and they mean many things, so let us describe
the things we mean them to say to you.
Number one: They are indeed a weapon in a battle. There is a battle coming. "Kryon, does that mean there's going to be a war?" Potentially, yes. Right now we will tell you that the Middle East cooks itself. You've noticed, haven't you? What do you know about the Middle East, dear one? Let's start examining things for a moment. What energy did you grow up in? What was the energy of the Middle East? In the '40s, what was the energy? With the establishment of the state of Israel, you built a wall of hate, both sides. The wall was so thick that the children of both sides were taught to hate one another as soon as they were able to understand the language. They were told who their enemies were. Now, where were you then?
Some of you weren't here yet. By the time you arrived, in your youth, were you aware of the Middle East? Not particularly. "What's the hatred about?" you might ask. What if I told you it's about a family feud? Two sons of a Jewish master are involved. One founded the Arabs and one remained a Jew. They don't want to hear this, but they are all Jews. (Don't tell them this.)
If you look at the lineage, it's pretty obvious and yet it's a complete and total set-up for either solution or war. The set-up would have this world ending in a conflagration that would have been brought about by this hatred. That's in the prophecy of Nostradamus and your scripture, but it is no longer the prophecy of the planet. Yet the hatred still exists. The hatred is as great today as it was then, but where was all the terrorism 40 years ago? It was isolated.
Those in Israel and Palestine and surrounding areas took the brunt of it, but now it's seemingly everywhere - and you're worried. Why would this be? The answer is that the old energy was happy to have this hatred contained, for it would keep it going and never involve outsiders. Outsiders tend to bring unwanted light to the party. Suddenly, the whole earth is involved and can see the entire scenario before them. The old guard wants war, just like all the eons before them. The ones on the bridge are holding the light and showing the earth how to cross. Even many younger ones in Israel and Palestine and Iran are holding light! It's all around the old guard and they are furious, for they are losing the "battle of hatred." …”
Number one: They are indeed a weapon in a battle. There is a battle coming. "Kryon, does that mean there's going to be a war?" Potentially, yes. Right now we will tell you that the Middle East cooks itself. You've noticed, haven't you? What do you know about the Middle East, dear one? Let's start examining things for a moment. What energy did you grow up in? What was the energy of the Middle East? In the '40s, what was the energy? With the establishment of the state of Israel, you built a wall of hate, both sides. The wall was so thick that the children of both sides were taught to hate one another as soon as they were able to understand the language. They were told who their enemies were. Now, where were you then?
Some of you weren't here yet. By the time you arrived, in your youth, were you aware of the Middle East? Not particularly. "What's the hatred about?" you might ask. What if I told you it's about a family feud? Two sons of a Jewish master are involved. One founded the Arabs and one remained a Jew. They don't want to hear this, but they are all Jews. (Don't tell them this.)
If you look at the lineage, it's pretty obvious and yet it's a complete and total set-up for either solution or war. The set-up would have this world ending in a conflagration that would have been brought about by this hatred. That's in the prophecy of Nostradamus and your scripture, but it is no longer the prophecy of the planet. Yet the hatred still exists. The hatred is as great today as it was then, but where was all the terrorism 40 years ago? It was isolated.
Those in Israel and Palestine and surrounding areas took the brunt of it, but now it's seemingly everywhere - and you're worried. Why would this be? The answer is that the old energy was happy to have this hatred contained, for it would keep it going and never involve outsiders. Outsiders tend to bring unwanted light to the party. Suddenly, the whole earth is involved and can see the entire scenario before them. The old guard wants war, just like all the eons before them. The ones on the bridge are holding the light and showing the earth how to cross. Even many younger ones in Israel and Palestine and Iran are holding light! It's all around the old guard and they are furious, for they are losing the "battle of hatred." …”
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