Environmental
Science intersects with many other fields on a regular basis, including
economics, politics, and as will be discussed in this post, war and
conflict. An area of the world in which the environmental management and
conflict work against each other all the time, is the Middle East. Particularly
when looking at Israel and Palestine. One ongoing battle between these peoples
concern Israel's separation wall, known as the Apartheid wall to some. To give
you an idea of the wall's size, in 2013, 62% of the 5 meter tall, 439 mile
long concrete barrier was completed, with 855 feet of this beyond the boundary
and actually into the west bank portion of Palestine (Katz-mink, 2013).
The Decision
The latest proposed installment to the wall's completion was a portion that ran through the historical agricultural landscape of Battir village in Palestine, which is where the conflict we will be discussing arose. It has been a long going case between the Israeli Defense Ministry (IDM) who claims security reasons for the state and the villagers of Battir who grow their own food and make their livelihoods off selling what grows on the land. This summer after years of indecision and hopping back and forth between courts, a resolution was finally made whereby the wall will NOT be built through the land of Battir. Groups of Israeli settlers and Battir villagers and Palestinian activists who had formed an unlikely friendship over the environmental concerns rejoiced in the news.
This outcome was
not from a decision of the courts or IDF, but rather UNESCO, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization who deemed Battir a World Heritage Site.
History and Politics of Battir
Battir is a small, ancient Palestinian village that is located between Bethlehem and the Jerusalem. The environmental issues the wall poses to Battir are due to its unique agricultural heritage. Perched above a valley on the between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Battir’s irrigation system dates back to the roman era and is virtually unchanged (Knell, 2014). Ancient channels bring water from seven natural mountain springs down terraces and through the gardens and orchards that surround the village (Knell, 2014). The 6,000 villagers consist of 8 main extended families that have worked the land as a collective for generations and obtain both their income and sustenance off of this land using a technique which has increased the fertility of the area over the decades (FOEME, 2012). The area contains valley and ridges that are fertile and olives, almonds, grapes, and fruit trees such as lemons are cultivated on the spring and cave abundant terraces (Sherwood, 2012). The wall's planned path was to cut straight through these terraces since Battir lays on a 1949 armistice line to the south of Jerusalem which leaves it two-thirds Palestinian and one-third Israeli.
The problem, as stated in global reports, is that the wall will damage the physical and human character of a community that has lived peacefully for centuries.
Agricultural/Environmental Implications
Moving away from the politics of the situation, the planned route included 500 feet of concrete wall that would have cut through the valley of surviving terraces that naturally irrigate the land. The villagers would be separated from 1/3 of their land and 40% of the land would be taken away (Rayner, 2014). Residents would have more restricted movement and the lifestyle of the village would be abandoned as the ecology and hydrology of the area became effected (Rinat, 2012). This consequence is proven as all over the world; any type of isolation or fragmentation of the landscape has negative effects on the amount and diversity of plants and animals in the area (Katz-mink, 2013). In other areas that Israel has touched on Palestinian territory, natural springs have dried up and some have become polluted (Rinat, 2012). The water table and quality of the groundwater may also be negatively impacted and harm the water security of the region as the flora which helps to maintain these become harmed (Katz-mink, 2013). The wall would block the natural flow of floodwater through its drainage-route: causing floods, soil erosion, and habitat damage (Katz-mink, 2013). An example of this was seen in Qalqilya, a Palestinian city in the West Bank in 2012 as floodwater mixed with sewage due to the separation wall’s placement and flooded people’s homes and fields.
I am overjoyed personally, to hear the news that the wall was not built through Battir as both an environmentalist and someone who is against separation of peoples and humans rights violations in general. Here we see a good, working example of environmental conflict and justice and the intersectionality of these issues. Most importantly though, is the fact that such an old and traditional system of agriculture is preserved in a time where more and more land is being converted in the modern model of industrialized food production.
The Decision
The latest proposed installment to the wall's completion was a portion that ran through the historical agricultural landscape of Battir village in Palestine, which is where the conflict we will be discussing arose. It has been a long going case between the Israeli Defense Ministry (IDM) who claims security reasons for the state and the villagers of Battir who grow their own food and make their livelihoods off selling what grows on the land. This summer after years of indecision and hopping back and forth between courts, a resolution was finally made whereby the wall will NOT be built through the land of Battir. Groups of Israeli settlers and Battir villagers and Palestinian activists who had formed an unlikely friendship over the environmental concerns rejoiced in the news.
This outcome was
not from a decision of the courts or IDF, but rather UNESCO, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization who deemed Battir a World Heritage Site. History and Politics of Battir
Battir is a small, ancient Palestinian village that is located between Bethlehem and the Jerusalem. The environmental issues the wall poses to Battir are due to its unique agricultural heritage. Perched above a valley on the between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Battir’s irrigation system dates back to the roman era and is virtually unchanged (Knell, 2014). Ancient channels bring water from seven natural mountain springs down terraces and through the gardens and orchards that surround the village (Knell, 2014). The 6,000 villagers consist of 8 main extended families that have worked the land as a collective for generations and obtain both their income and sustenance off of this land using a technique which has increased the fertility of the area over the decades (FOEME, 2012). The area contains valley and ridges that are fertile and olives, almonds, grapes, and fruit trees such as lemons are cultivated on the spring and cave abundant terraces (Sherwood, 2012). The wall's planned path was to cut straight through these terraces since Battir lays on a 1949 armistice line to the south of Jerusalem which leaves it two-thirds Palestinian and one-third Israeli.
The problem, as stated in global reports, is that the wall will damage the physical and human character of a community that has lived peacefully for centuries.
Agricultural/Environmental Implications
Moving away from the politics of the situation, the planned route included 500 feet of concrete wall that would have cut through the valley of surviving terraces that naturally irrigate the land. The villagers would be separated from 1/3 of their land and 40% of the land would be taken away (Rayner, 2014). Residents would have more restricted movement and the lifestyle of the village would be abandoned as the ecology and hydrology of the area became effected (Rinat, 2012). This consequence is proven as all over the world; any type of isolation or fragmentation of the landscape has negative effects on the amount and diversity of plants and animals in the area (Katz-mink, 2013). In other areas that Israel has touched on Palestinian territory, natural springs have dried up and some have become polluted (Rinat, 2012). The water table and quality of the groundwater may also be negatively impacted and harm the water security of the region as the flora which helps to maintain these become harmed (Katz-mink, 2013). The wall would block the natural flow of floodwater through its drainage-route: causing floods, soil erosion, and habitat damage (Katz-mink, 2013). An example of this was seen in Qalqilya, a Palestinian city in the West Bank in 2012 as floodwater mixed with sewage due to the separation wall’s placement and flooded people’s homes and fields.
I am overjoyed personally, to hear the news that the wall was not built through Battir as both an environmentalist and someone who is against separation of peoples and humans rights violations in general. Here we see a good, working example of environmental conflict and justice and the intersectionality of these issues. Most importantly though, is the fact that such an old and traditional system of agriculture is preserved in a time where more and more land is being converted in the modern model of industrialized food production.
FOEME. (2012,September). Community Based Problem Solving on Water Issues.
Retrieved from http://foeme.org/uploads/13470236580~%5E$%5E~Community_Based_Problem_Solving_on_Water_Issues_2012.pdf.
Katz-Mink, E. (2013). Dangerous Separation: An Ecosystem and Way of Life
in the West Bank at the Brink of Destruction. Sustainable Development, Law, and
Policy,13. Retrieved from http://foeme.org/www/?module=projects&record_id=91
Knell, Y. (2014, January 28). West Bank villages' fate rests on key Israeli
court ruling. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-25936419.
Rayner, T. (2014, January 29). Israel 'Must Divide' Ancient West Bank Village.
Sky News HD. Retrieved from http://news.sky.com/story/1202574/israel-must-divide-ancient-west-bank-village
Rinat, Z. (2012, September 13). Ministry of Defense: Minimal Damage, A First:
A Government Ministry Against the Separation Wall. Haaretz. Retrieved from
http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/1.1823483.
Sherwood, H. (2012, December 11). Israeli separation wall threatens Battir's ancient terraces. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/11/israel-palestinians-battir-separation-wall.
Hey Zuhidah, great topic! I loved the pictures that you posted, it really goes well with what you wrote about. I am really interested about the Palestine/Israeli war and I have been keeping up with it for a long time so you had my attention the entire time. While reading your blog it reminded me of the science vs politics topic and usually they don’t mix well with each other but I am also glad that the wall was not built in the city of Battir. I look forward to reading more!
ReplyDeleteHi Zuhidah,
ReplyDeleteI thought your choice of topic for this post was extremely unique. I have never heard of the environmental impact of Israel/Palestine conflict before. This was extremely interesting. The very fact that conflict has just caused another problem in a long list of concerns affecting the people living there is really something to think about. I loved the way organized your article. It was easy to follow and understand. You also kept it very professional and informative and when you consider how much of a delicate issue it is, that approach is the best one. I loved reading about this topic. Hope to read more.
Thank you for your comments! I am also happy that the wall was not built, an unusual win for Palestinian villagers dealing with the separation wall's course. I am very invested in these topics as someone of Palestinian ethnicity and having visited several times. Most people are not aware of the environmental impact but there are many, including issues with food and water regarding the agricultural practices of both states. If you have any questions that weren't addressed in the article let me know, I'd be happy to answer them!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a horrible situation to go through. Its horrible to hear of the Palestinian city that wasn't as lucky and had a wall built. Do they not do research on the effects of the wall or just don't care? The mixing of water and sewage is atrocious. I imagine Battir as a beautiful place. Living off the land for generations is great, and doing that together as a community is inspiring. I hope that no one else in that region has to share the same worry of a wall ruining their land and way of life.
ReplyDelete