National and transnational borderlanders' attitudes towards the security fence between Israel and the Palestinian Authority

Authors: Gelbman, Alon¹; Keinan, Ofra²

Source: GeoJournal, Volume 68, Number 4, April 2007 , pp. 279-291(13)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The subject of the security fence between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank has become a major issue in Israel and in the world in the last several years. The main aim of this research is to reveal the attitudes and thoughts about the fence held by local residents living in settlements (borderlanders) in the proximity of a part of the security fence that has already been completed. The research concentrates on the western-Israeli side of the fence, as it aspires to delve into and understand the meaning and implications of the security fence on matters such as personal security, safety of property and freedom of movement, the possibility of maintaining social and economic ties between the two sides and feelings about living in the area in the future. Underlying this research is the transformation occurring in the border area as a result of its closure by construction of the security fence, after many years in which it was open partially. This process has many diverse consequences, some of them contradictory, on the two populations residing near the border in Israel: the majority Jewish population (the national borderlanders), and the minority Arab population (the transnational borderlanders).

Keywords: Borderland; Israel; National and transnational identity; Residents attitudes; Rural settlement; Security fence

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10708-007-9084-x

Affiliations: 1: Email: along@kinneret.ac.il 2: Email: ofra@kinneret.ac.il

Publication date: 2007-04-01