By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

BELFAST, Northern Ireland; JERUSALEM, Israeli-Palestine – November 9th marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an event that paved the way for the reunification of Germany and renewed ties between the West and what would become the former Communist Bloc. For nearly three decades the Berlin Wall, which was originally built to prevent people in East Germany from fleeing to the West, stood as a symbol of cold war tensions and soviet oppression. The fall of the Berlin wall became a symbol, not only of the collapse of a physical barriers between west and east, but of the collapse of barriers to free movement, enterprise and expression. Ultimately the Berlin Wall has been remembered as an apartheid wall whose collapse would become an iconic moments in world history. 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, apartheid walls are still being used in some countries, often justified as an attempt to preserve peace while, like the Berlin Wall, they ultimately remain a symbol of conflict.

Armed with hammers a group of Palestinian protesters broke a whole the the West Bank Separation Wall, which they see as a symbol of Apartheid. (Photo courtesy of Haaretz)

25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall the World’s oldest actively maintained apartheid wall still separates the poorest working class neighborhoods of Belfast, diving catholic and protestant communities on religious lines. The walls, constructed by the United Kingdom as a security measure, stood through the bloodiest days of the troubles. While many in Belfast still believe the walls are necessary to keep the peace between communities despite the achievement of a peace agreement that led to a power sharing government. While some believe that walls help keep the peace others believe the walls serve as a constant reminder of the troubles and ultimately keep the tensions alive and prevent the development of true peace and unity.

On the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall a group of protesters have attempted to bring the world’s attention to an apartheid wall that keeps their communities divided. Despite the risks from tight security measures, a group of Palestinian youths have dug a hole in Israel’s separation wall with the Palestinian territories, as a symbolic gesture to mark 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The activist said in a statement about their symbolic actions that “it doesn’t matter how high the barriers will be, they will fall. Like the Berlin Wall fell – The Palestinian wall will fall.”

In 2004 the International Court of Justice ruled that “the construction of the wall, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law”. The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that the Israeli barrier “causes serious humanitarian and legal problems” and goes “far beyond what is permissible for an occupying power.”

The Israeli government argues that the West Bank Separation Wall was constructed as a security measure, intended to prevent Palestinian terrorist from entering Indian and carrying out attacks against civilian populations. However, Palestinians refer to that wall as the “apartheid wall” and see it as a symbol of Israeli oppression, in much the same way the Berlin Wall, became a symbol of oppression and division.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Palestinians remind world of their own wall – 9 November 2014
Haaretz – On Berlin Wall’s collapse anniversary, Palestinians punch hole through West Bank wall – 9 November 2014
The Jerusalem Post – Palestinians break open hole in West Bank security barrier, 25 years after Berlin Wall fall – 9 November 2014
Time Magazine – From Belfast to Baghdad, See the World’s Dividing Walls – 6 November 2014

Author: Impunity Watch Archive