The separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank has been a topic of much debate since its initial
construction in 2002. Part of this debate is over what to call the structure. Most Israelis refer to it as the
“security fence,” whereas most Palestinians refer to it as the “segregation wall.” The
ICJ calls it the “wall,” but the BBC uses the term
“barrier.”
Two concerns about the structure have prompted this multitude of names: its make-up (fence/wall/barrier) and its
stated or assumed purpose (security/separation/segregation).
The ELCA Peace Not Walls campaign, along with
a number of American and Israeli peace groups, now uses the term “separation barrier” because it best describes the
structure and what it does. We believe the discussion should move beyond the naming of this construction to the
more pertinent issues of its path and effects on both Palestinians and Israelis.
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Forbidden Family is a story about the
separation barrier and its effect on one Lutheran Palestinian
family. This 9-minute video is a great way to help your
congregation understand the conflict in the Holy Land from the
perspective of Lutheran Palestinians.
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