I don't live in Israel. I don't experience the daily challenges of life here. Nor the daily pleasures. What I observe I see in snatches on short trips every year. A quick in and out.
But just as parents may be oblivious to their children's growth as it occurs slowly and incrementally before them while long-lost relatives or friends exclaim about how big they've gotten, so too can I see the dramatic changes.
And one change that is impossible to ignore by those of us who have been coming year after year, intifada or no intifada, is the difference the security fence has made.
While the world screams its moral outrage (clearly without understanding or perspective), the streets of Jerusalem are alive once again. There are people everywhere. Restaurants are packed. Hotels are overbooked. And residents of the same countries whose UN representatives are attacking Israel are visiting en masse.
Israel is thriving, alive, bustling.
We trip over tourist groups everywhere we go, to the point where I (almost) wish there were fewer of them. It's very difficult to get to the Kotel on Friday night. My husband and I couldn't find a hotel room. Without a reservation, dinner was once again falafel.
And it's true all over the country. Even the Israeli Arabs feel safer and were picnicking up and down the Galilee to celebrate the end of Ramadan. A few short years ago the artists' colony in Sefad was empty, our footsteps echoing on the lonely cobblestones. I opened my wallet (and emptied my bank account) trying to support my brothers and sisters. Now the streets of Sefad are also full. It's hard to move through the narrow alleyways. And my husband shoos my hand away from his credit card. It's always good to support the Israeli economy (and I still managed to do my bit!) but the situation is less dire; the artists are no longer literally starving.
And I feel less alone. The country is thriving, alive, bustling. Jewish thought advocates a delicate balance between our efforts and the Almighty's intervention in the world. While we recognize and remember that our successes and failures are in His hands, that our safety depends on His beneficence, we must also take precautions.
The security fence seems, thank God, to be an effective effort; a practical action that has made a real and significant difference. Just ask the throngs in the streets. Don't just ask the Jews. Ask the Israeli Arabs, the nuns, the German tourists, the Coptic priests, the American evangelicals, the Japanese. Just don't ask the UN.
(18) Gary Katz, November 27, 2007 8:31 AM
Hashem's involvement only part of the equation
Some writers feel Hashem is Israel's security chief. Maybe so - I personally can't say. But if He is, his first directive probably would be to build the fence. Before the fence, Divine protection from terrorism was sporadic at best. The Passover seder massacre comes to mind.
Regarding all those sanctimonious critics around the world, it's sad that they're more concerned with Palestinian convenience than Israeli lives. They apparently feel that the owner of a house has no right to keep his doors and windows locked. Ironically, many of Israel's fence critics not only screen their own visitors, they won't let their own citizens leave.
(17) Anonymous, November 19, 2007 7:44 AM
Yes, i do agree that the situation re tourism, economy is better. However, not better for the soldiers of Israel who still are catching arab terrorists on a daily basis, whose aim is to cause harm to the soldiers, to our citizens and to destroy our lives.
(16) W. Weintraub, November 18, 2007 12:47 PM
Driving along the security fence
From the highway it does not look so formidable, but it serves its purpose. My wife and I were in Isreal at the heght of the infadadi, NO torists at all!!! Today its different
(15) Anonymous, November 17, 2007 8:56 AM
You said it.
Please ignore the fools in UN.
(14) Diana Clarke, November 16, 2007 7:42 PM
atmosphere
visited primarily the Old City in Oct. the atmosphere was full of life, happiness. exuberance, oh it was so wonderful. and friendliness too.
(13) Anonymous, November 15, 2007 4:29 PM
fschwart@mac.com
What a refreshing article! I, too, have been privileged to visit Israel; I qvell at how vibrant everything seems, now that the fence is doing its job. Too bad the rest of the world refuses to see its benefits.
(12) Chana, November 15, 2007 11:01 AM
Source of security
Our security will never come from a
fence. Nor from the IDF. Our security comes only from Hashem.
(11) Michoel, November 15, 2007 10:28 AM
Eleh v'rechev v'sussim...
It is not the fence and it is not the IDF either.
(10) Jackie Behar, November 15, 2007 8:51 AM
The wall is a very expensive joke
I can't believe anyone so intelligent could make such a huge mistake in her perception. Hashem runs the world and if he is picking up tourism so be it. I live in Har Bracha, right on top of Schem and rock throwing is on the rise here, everyday. The Army is working very hard to keep us safe, not always enough to our liking, and to keep the situation quiet and out of the press in other parts of the country. (So the tourists will keep coming).The Arabs want us out or dead and the wall is just giving them more incentive because the "boarder" is ready and waiting. It is a disaster, and the making of another Arab state, ( like they don't have enough already) is just a stone throw away.
(9) Lar, November 14, 2007 8:16 PM
Different Viewpoints
As a non-resident of Israel, the fence sure looks like it works. The writer, also a non-resident clearly believes that. It seems to have slowed terrorist acivity and provides a feeling of security to vistors, real or perceived. What is more interesting are the comments by residents of Israel who do not feel it serves a positive purpose. My only comment is that percieved security by non-Israelis is worth something, be it more tourism, commerce or comfort in visiting the Holy Land. My question is, if the fence is only a political ploy to create a Palestinian State, will the outcome be negative to the security of Israel? Time will tell.
(8) Damon, November 14, 2007 8:27 AM
Fence in the middle of the country BAD idea !!
The fence is a ploy by the leftist government to make a de facto Arab state in the heartland of Israel. Instead, build more Jewish cities, schools, yishovos,etc. and let the Arabs return to their homeland in Arabia or any of the other 22 Arab states!
(7) Dvirah, November 14, 2007 7:28 AM
Real Security
As someone living in Israel, I agree with Dr. Templeman. It is not the "security" fence which has made the difference but the increased actions of Zahal.
(6) Volvi, November 14, 2007 6:05 AM
Alas you are being duped
Nice sentiments but based on naivete. This wall has had nothing to do with security, that was the explanation fed to a naive public. Its purpose was always meant to be a future border for a newly created Palestinian terror state carved out of Israel's Jewish homeland. Perfidy in action. So please dont thank God, this is an anti God of Israel action.
(5) Barry E Lerner, November 13, 2007 9:58 PM
Tale of two fences
I find it amusing to note that the very same American Jews who cheer the effects of the Israeli fence are the loudest liberals condemning the American/Mexican fence, although the mass ingress of illegals is destroying the US as surely as the Arab "right of return" would destroy Israel.
(4) colin plen, November 13, 2007 12:22 PM
just been to visit Israel -agree entirely
The "frightening" security wall is actually quite insignificant when one looks at the whole panorama of Jerusalem but its effect and the diligent work of our security forces can be seen in the burgeoning economy. There are hundreds of carnes erecting new buidlings everywhere, new developments. I was so happy to feel the peace and see the growth.
(3) Dr. Yosef Templeman, November 13, 2007 11:00 AM
the security fence is a white Elephant
12 billion shekels have been thrown out on a marginally useful security fence. Everyone living in Israel knows that the army enters the Arab towns just about every single night to kill or arrest the terrorists and uncover their bomb facotries. the fence itself is close to worthless. There is little difficulty, if any, for a terrorist to cross the fence using an Israeli licence or to cross in Jerusalem or other areas where the fence is incomplete. The fence is simply being used by the left to bring the settlement movement to an end and return us to the 67 borders.
(2) Ora, November 13, 2007 2:44 AM
I disagree
The wall has made no difference. The number of suicide attacks started going down dramatically in 2002. By 2004 there were very few attacks and now B"H there are almost none. In 2002 the fence was barely started, in 2004 less than half was done, and now in 2007 the fence is still far from complete. The area around Jerusalem, where Mrs. Braverman noticed such a significant difference, has not been completed.
What made such a dramatic difference was sending the IDF into Arab towns and carrying out constant arrest campaigns and assassinations of senior terrorists. The first major drop in attacks (about a 70% drop) took place after the Defensive Shield operation in 2002. Attacks continued to drop as several terrorist heads like Yassin and Rantisi were taken out over the next two years. Several suicide bombings were thwarted this year--not by the fence/wall, but by operations in Shechem and other cities, by soldiers at checkpoints, and by an excellent system of intelligence that allows the IDF to know when bombers are on the loose. All the wall has done is ruin the landscape and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of shekels.
Also, I 100% agree with Michael Makovi. The best solution would be removing terrorists in the first place. Look what's happening in Gaza with the constant rocket attacks--when you have people who want to kill you they'll find a way, even if there's a wall in place.
(1) Michael Makovi, November 11, 2007 3:20 PM
We shouldn't need the wall in the first place
If we were to expel those Arabs who want to kill us (and only those specific Arabs), there'd be no need for the wall. We could live in complete peace, knowing all the terrorists were living in Lebanon or Syria or Jordan or anywhere besides Israel. And yes, the borders of Israel, within which no Arabs-who-want-to-kill-us would live, does include the West Bank.