The Jerusalem Post reported that the first 150 yards of the barrier will consist of cement pilings buried in the water's sandy bottom. A six-foot fence floating beneath the surface will run an additional 800 yards.

With prospects of peace still uncertain despite talks last week between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel is proceeding with its plan for the underwater security barrier so it can prevent attacks by Palestinian militants after the withdrawal.

"From an Israeli perspective, they view the use of barriers as successful in keeping terrorists away," said Steven Cook, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Israel already has in place a 400-mile land barrier - 90 percent fence , 5-percent wall -- separating Israel from the West Bank. And an electric fence separates Israel from Gaza.

"But this is certainly not a testament to any trust being built and is emblematic of the fact that Israel does not think withdrawing will end terrorism," Cook said.

The Palestinian Authority is protesting the submerged barrier. The existing land barrier has been a source of major controversy as it cuts and curves into Palestinian areas, at times dissecting a town in two and much farmland, too.

"I hope the Israeli mentality of barriers will end," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters June 17 when the plan was formally announced. "Now they have land barriers and tomorrow sea barriers and the day after sky barriers and what else? Will they put a barrier around each individual, or house?"

Israel, however, believes in the effectiveness of the barriers in keeping terrorism in check. Since the West Bank barrier was constructed, the number of suicide bombers has dropped significantly. According to Israel Defense Forces statistics, there were up to five successful suicide attacks by Palestinians per month in 2002. By 2004, with the land barriers in place, there were 1.38 successful attacks per month.

Israel hopes to find similar success with the new underwater barrier. The Israeli navy has thwarted recent attempts by militants to swim ashore to attack settlements in Gaza, reported the Jerusalem Post. Last November, a Palestinian armed with an AK-47, four grenades, five ammunition clips, a knife and a rubber dinghy, was shot dead while trying to swim ashore to apparently attack a Jewish settlement in the northern Gaza strip.

"The message is clear that security is still a threat there -- withdrawal from Gaza does not mean Israel is giving up the responsibility of protecting its own people," said Gal Luft, executive director of the Washington-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. "The barriers are there for a reason -- to keep terrorists out - and if that reason dissolves we won't need these kinds of barriers anymore."

The recent meeting in Jerusalem between Sharon and Abbas demonstrated Israel's reason to build the barrier. The meeting was clouded by the arrest of 52 Islamic extremists and an airstrike on Gaza, which Israel said was in retaliation for a Palestinian attack.

"What we need to promote peace, justice and stability is not new barriers," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, "We don't want an open air prison for Palestinians in Gaza -- that is not going to bring a solution."

Until all attacks cease, Israel says it will continue erecting these barriers.

Some religious leaders and Middle East experts are suggesting other solutions.

Professor Akbar Ahmed, chair of the Islamic Studies at the American University in Washington, has worked extensively with some of Washington's most important religious leaders to promote an interfaith dialogue among the major religions. Ahmed believes the only real way to work toward a lasting peace is an understanding and respect of all faiths.

On June 17, Ahmed met with Bruce Lustig, a prominent rabbi, and the head pastor at the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, John Bryson Chane to discuss issues with 200 university students of all faiths. Ahmed said within these discussions lay the answers for peace -- not in barrier building or suicide bombs.

"Rather than creating barriers, it is time we developed trust," Ahmed told United Press International. He suggested Jews and Palestinian leaders "go as a team and try to build bridges."

"Interfaith dialogue is at least giving an alternative," said Ahmed. "Right now, both sides have no hope -- they need to be able to look and say, here is a working dialogue. Each side needs to learn to have respect for one another."

Ahmed noted the symbolic steps Pakistan and India have taken to achieve peace despite a long-standing rivalry such as allowing buses and trains to run between the two countries.

"We have to start taking some initiatives," said Ahmed of the Middle East conflict.

In Israel, however, the barrier is likely to be built until peace is achieved.

"We have to do what we have to do. No one's happy about offending anyone and certainly it all has an affect on non-combatants and it's a shame - but maybe they will figure it out," said Jim Colbert, communications director with the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

Ahmed believes eventually both sides will "figure it out."

"Unless you can achieve a culture of good will and harmony, nothing will work," said Ahmed. "You can build these huge barriers - 20-, 40-, 60-feet high and still something might trigger in someone's mind and they will blow themselves up in a bus station or an airport or a shopping mall. What needs to change is not in the physical barriers, but in the mentality towards each other."

All rights reserved. Copyright 2004 by United Press International. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by United Press International. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of by United Press International.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express
The Long War - Doctrine and Application

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News