Ruth Zalph: Israel needs to address barriers

Regarding the Nov. 10 news article “Obama, Netanyahu renew their call for peace in Mideast”: Without doubt, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with our president to ask for more money – $3 billion is not enough.

How will he spend it? On more home demolitions, over 26,000 since 1967? On building more Israeli condominiums in the West Bank and West Jerusalem, in contravention of international law, where 520,000 Israeli settlers currently live? Will he build more than the 600 checkpoints, which make it almost impossible for Palestinians to go to work, school or visit holy places in Jerusalem? Will Netanyahu extend the separation barrier, now 450 miles long and 28 feet high, that extends into Palestinian land and farms?

This barrier is a political border defining Israel’s expanded borders and the confines of the Palestinian cantons. More than 97 percent of Palestinians are confined to dozens of tiny enclaves.

Will he build more Israeli-only highways creating greater barriers to Palestinian movement, and will Netanyahu continue to control all water sources in the entire country? I hope President Obama addresses these vital questions.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Ruth Zalph: Israel needs to address barriers."