JERUSALEM, July 7, 2010 (WAFA)- The Israeli Wall in the West Bank, in conjunction with its gate and permit regime, continues to be the single largest obstacle to Palestinian movement within the West Bank, including to and from East Jerusalem, said Wednesday a joint OCHA and WHO special focus on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the ICJ advisory opinion on the Wall.

The impact has been particularly severe on rural communities, as the intrusive route cuts through eight of the West Bank’s eleven governorates, isolating the farms, greenhouses, grazing lands and water resources of tens of thousands of Palestinians farmers, the special focus added.

The extension of the ‘closed area’ and permit regime since January 2009 has further restricted access to agricultural land in the central and southern West Bank.

The intrusive route of the Barrier inside the West Bank including East Jerusalem, together with its associated permit and gate regime, is not only contrary to international law, but is also gravely impacting on Palestinian access to health, in East Jerusalem and the ‘Seam Zone’ communities.

In the past year, the Israeli authorities have ‘released’ certain of these communities to the ‘Palestinian side’ of Wall. However, these amendments, which are in compliance with decisions issued by the Israeli High Court of Justice rather than the ICJ advisory opinion, leave the re-routed sections of the Wall within the West Bank rather than along the 1967 borders or in Israel.

In many cases, while restoring the communities’ links to health and education services, they restrict their access to the agricultural land on which their livelihoods and survival depend.

Although Israel has the duty to ensure the safety and security of its citizens in response to attacks by Palestinian militants, this must be in accordance with international law and should not cause long-term detriment to the local Palestinian population. The ICJ advisory opinion called on Israel to cease construction of the Wall, including in and around East Jerusalem, and to dismantle the sections of the Wall already completed.

In line with the advisory opinion, Israel should stop all Barrier construction and dismantle or re-route the constructed sections to the 1967 borders. Only then will the Palestinian communities cut off by the Wall be able to exercise their rights to freedom of movement, work, education, health and an adequate standard of living. This will also ensure that no Palestinian land and water reserves are isolated between the Wall and the 1967 borders, preventing rural communities from cultivating land, harvesting crops and grazing animals.

Although no measures can substitute for the full implementation of the ICJ advisory opinion, the Israeli authorities can initiate interim steps to mitigate the negative effects of the Wall and its associated permit and checkpoint/gate regime on Palestinians’ right to health:

-          Residents of the ‘Seam Zone’, and farmers working their land there, must be allowed to leave the area around the clock and without delay in order to access to medical facilities whenever needed.

-           Palestinian medical personnel must be allowed to enter the ‘Seam Zone’ at all times and without delay, in order to provide care to residents and farmers alike.

-           The specialized hospitals in East Jerusalem must be accessible to all Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Medical needs must be a priority in the allocation of permits.

-          Wall checkpoints into East Jerusalem should offer facilitated passage for patients and a speedy transfer of patients in ambulances.

-          West Bank employees from East Jerusalem hospitals should be allowed to use all Wall checkpoints.

-          Access to specialized training in East Jerusalem hospitals must be ensured for medical students.