Israel's "separation barrier" is nearing completion along large stretches of its route. Slab by 30ft slab, it seals off West Jerusalem to protect it from West Bank suicide bombers. While it has played an important role in reducing attacks inside Israel, it has thrown the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into disarray. Families have found themselves split on either side of the wall with their visits restricted by checkpoints. It has divided towns, farming land and even roads in half.
The UN recently estimated that the barrier has taken more than 10% of West Bank land, according to the 1967 borders. Lipika Pelham visits the northern West Bank village of Der El Ghossun to assess it’s effect.
