Obama in Tel Aviv: US Policy for the Israeli Citizen; Good News???

Obama's message to Tel Avivian's is not simple to accept here. Is this a problem to Netanyahu's government? Should Obama or Netanyahu change their stance? Should Tel Avivian's change? (from White House web site)

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Ha'aretz [Hebrew addition] recently published a story about the unfinished state of the security fence between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (14/07/2009). A not so hidden message mentions the "America's disapproval of the whole idea of cutting the country into two". Therefore the Israeli government budget and matching US funds simply stopped in 2007. Since then the work has slowed down to a crawl. At the time nobody wanted to aggravate the Bush administration or restart a wave of negative press from international media channels.

Actually, Ha'aretz is focusing on the unresolved settlements issue. The settlements issue is complicating a final border agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Therefore the uncompleted sections of the security fence suddenly make for news. The unresolved settlements issue can be seen in the "three fingers" jutting out of the green line (official Israel 1949 armistice map). The Palestinian Authority will not give up on this land without getting something in return from Israel. Israelis are not blind to the position of the Palestinian Authority and the people they represent. This issue has been slowly resolving itself. Tel Aviv residents clearly view this issue as the most visible item holding up the security fence completion. That makes it the most controversial and a key factor in the security of the central part of Israel.

Security Fence, August 2008, mostly finished, still un-built in controversial sections.

The feeling about the security fence in Tel Aviv is one of annoying necessity. Some would say it is a necessary evil. The fence is annoyance in terms of the international press and Israel's image in some countries, but not all. Comparison of the security fence to the Berlin wall and walls between North and South Korea or the US and Mexico border barrier are made all the time. At the same time, the security fence has clearly helped in quieting down complaints from both side of the border. Terrorism inside Israel has virtually stopped. Complaints about Israeli citizens in Palestinian areas has also completely stopped. Palestinian Arabs are not seen in the central part of Israel and Israeli Jews are few and far between anywhere outside the green line. The necessity of the security fence is undeniable, fences work in other places and they work just as well here. The same can be said of the security fences with Lebanon in the north and with Gaza in the south. But they also cut off the daily interaction between Israelis and Palestinians. It feels like we are in one large pen. Even cows and horses feel penned in when you put them into a fenced area. Once in a while you hear Tel Avivian's mention the good old days when you can shop for olive oil in Beit Jalla (the best in the world some say [Cooperative site] [YouTube clip]) or shop at some roadside stand for vegetables. But you also hear about the brisk trade of stolen cars taken from upscale Tel Aviv neighborhood to an anonymous orchard in the 'territories' and chopped up for parts. This has stopped as well. Like most people, Israelis have positive and negative labels to the Palestinian territories. When things were better construction workers, car mechanics, cleaners and restaurant workers made their way daily from Palestinian refugee camps [UNRWA page], towns and villages [pictures] to work in Israel. Sometimes they would even find a place to sleep, a storeroom in a restaurant, the back of a garage, a rented room in an Arab village or even in Jafa (close to Tel Aviv). This would help in the daily travel but also had the consequence of being caught (most Palestinian Arabs did not have permission to live in Israel just to work there). But this is just nostalgia speaking. The sad part is how few people have essentially caused two nations to feel haltered and fear towards each other. NO TEL AVIV RESIDENT would ever think of the majority of Palestinian as terrorist. Not even a fraction of a percent has attacked Israel. But even the thought of another attack in the middle of the city is enough to accept the security fence and call it a necessary evil. Overall, the security fence is good news, being isolated - possible NOT, AmiV @ TLV