Separation Barrier

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 International Court of Justice (ICJ) calls it the "wall," but the British Broadcasting Corporation (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.