Borders & Barriers

Barriers to a Positive Peace Exhibition-Australia National University, Canberra

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As part of my ongoing project looking at how separation walls in intractable conflicts such as Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Israel/Palestine, contribute to being both physical and psychological barriers to a positive peace, I’m very happy that the section on the Israel-Palestine Separation Barrier is being exhibited at the Australia National University in Canberra as part of the Human Rights in Palestine Conference 2013. There are some excellent speakers lined up and I’m sure it will create some intense discussions.

If you’d like to see the exhibition it’s running from September 11-12th at the ANU Commons centre and is open to the public.

Details of the Human Rights in Palestine Conference 2013 can be found via the LINK.

 

OVERVIEW

Physically separating conflicted communities continues to be a policy decision by many governments around the world in an attempt to curb violence. These separation walls become highly politicised and are a physical manifestation of failed policies to overcome the root causes of each of these conflicts.

One of the most controversial of these recent structures is the Separation Barrier between Israel and Palestine. Over ten years of construction, it has created ‘facts on the ground’ that have dramatically impacted Palestinian society and its economy. Israel states the barrier is there for security reasons and was built in response to a spate of suicide bombings in Israel. The Palestinians say it’s a de facto border and land grab.

Approximately 15% of the wall will be built along the internationally recognised Green Line with the remaining 85% built inside the West Bank resulting in some of the most fertile land and water sources becoming almost inaccessible to Palestinian farmers and communities.

The wall separates Israel from Palestine but it also runs directly through many Palestinian communities, dividing families and economically severing once sustainable businesses.

It’s not only the physical wall that has become a barrier to rights of passage. A complicated and bureaucratic permit system also stops thousands of Palestinians daily movements, severely impacting access to farm land that lie on the ‘wrong’ side of the wall or to employment opportunities within Israel.

Whilst these physical barriers arguably may provide short term gains in security, they are ineffective as long term solutions to creating a sustainable positive peace. Whilst resolutions to the conflicts are sought, the most affected by these policies are the people who live in their shadow, their lives are shaped by their presence, creating both deep physical and psychological challenges for residents.

The impact of the wall on a personal level can be seen in this exhibition through personal testimony from Palestinians who suffer the daily indignity of having to pass through the overcrowded check points, lost hours of productivity waiting for gates to open, the high unemployment rates within the West Bank and the frequent demonstrations against the wall.

The exhibition forms part of an ongoing project looking at how separation walls in intractable conflicts such as Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Israel-Palestine, contribute to being both physical and psychological barriers to a positive peace.

However, for some communities these walls provide the desired protection and a reassuring knowledge that they are separated from ‘the other’, whom they have come to fear. It many cases these walls were quickly constructed during times of violence. They may end up being one of the last structures to come down to enable peace.

Barriers to a Positive Peace- The Israel-Palestine Separation Barrier

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I was able to make a short trip back to Israel and Palestine in September to continue my long term project on communities divided by separation barriers. Everytime you visit this region something has changed, not usually in a positive way, and this trip was no exception. It terms of trouble and violence it was probably the quietest time I’ve experienced there.  The usual Friday protests were still happening in Ni’lin and Bil’in but with much reduced turnout and it was unusually calm yet tense on the streets, as if everyone was waiting for something to happen. Well that calmness was certainly broken with the latest confrontations in Gaza which has led to widespread unrest throughout the rest of the West Bank.

As for the Separation Barrier, it continues to be a major obstacle to the peace process, whatever remains of it, and to the day to day lives of people who are surrounded by the barrier. The aim this time was to meet a number of people who have been directly affected by the walls construction. I’ll be heading back to this region again soon and will spend more time meeting Israeli residents to hear what the wall means to them. Here are a few images from that trip and a brief synopsis behind the concept of this project.

Barriers to a Positive Peace

Walls are highly political and represent the physical manifestation of failed policies to overcome the root causes of each of these conflicts. Whilst providing short term gains in security they are inevitably ineffective as long term solutions to creating a sustainable positive peace. Whilst resolutions to the conflicts are sort, the most affected by these policies are the people who live under their shadow. Daily lives are shaped by their presence creating both deep physical and physiological challenges for residents. It may mean walking extra miles to go to the shops, the fear and indignity of passing through checkpoints that separate family and friends or even just the sheer physical presence of such structures in their back yard. However, to some communities they provide the desired protection and a reassuring knowledge that they are physically separated from ‘the other’.  Walls are a symptom of conflict, not a cause. It many cases they are the first thing to go up during times of violence. They may be the last structures to come down to enable peace.

 

Claire Anastas, a Palestinian Christian in Bethlehem washing up with an Israeli watchtower looking directly into the families living space. The wall was built here in 2004, two weeks before Christmas and surrounds her house on three sides. The sacred site of Rachel's' Tomb is on the other side of the wall. She said 'This affects us the most because whenever we wake in the morning we look outside and see only walls and cameras.'

Claire Anastas, a Palestinian Christian in Bethlehem who had her house surrounded on three sides by the wall. The economic impact of the wall has been extreme. Claire explains, ' We used to have an organic fruit and vegetable shop, a car mechanics workshop and souvenir shop. This road running along side my house used to be the main road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem and was very busy with markets and tourists visiting Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb. Since the wall was built cutting us off we have lost all our business.'

Orthodox Jews wait at a bus stop after praying at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem. Claire Anastas's house can just been seen on the other side of the wall. Claire remembers when the road was a thriving market area attracting people from all religions to shop and visit the sites, ' We used to be friends and when we used to live together we used to exchange cultures and life and know about each other more.'

 

The separation barrier in Bethlehem. In many areas, the wall is constructed in what used to be lively commercial districts. Many businesses now struggle to survive as demand has dramatically reduced.

Hani Amer (55) who has 6 children and lives with his wife Munira. His house in which he has lived for 39 years is surrounded by the separation barrier cutting him off from the Palestinian village of Mas'ha. Behind his house is the Israeli settlement of Elkana. The concrete section of wall in front of his house serves no security purpose and Hani says was built out of spite to spoil his view.

 

Hani Amer (55) unlocking the gate he and his family has to use to enter his property. The wall was built in 2003 and he had to fight to be given a key to the only gate that gives him access to the outside world.

The wall not only divides Israel from Palestine but also separates Palestinian communities resulting in many families and friends being cut off from each other. The wall here runs directly though a Palestinian community in Ar Ram close to Jerusalem.

Ali Ayyad (62) with his sister Zainab Bader at her house in Abu Dis. Ali's house can be seen just on the other side of the wall. It used to take just a few minutes to walk to each others house but since the wall was built it now takes at least 30 minutes by taxi costing $30 or 1.5 hours costing $7 by public transport. The Dome of the Rock can be seen in the background showing how close to central Jerusalem the wall has been built.

Residents of Ni'lin and supporters protest against the separation barrier that has separated them from large tracts of their valuable farming land. These protests have been held every Friday for years.

Surrounded by tear gas, a protester from Ni'lin chants through a loudspeaker towards Israeli soldiers on the other side of the wall..

A young Palestinian man uses a slingshot to aim rocks at Israeli soldiers during the weekly protests in Bil'in. The illegal Israeli settlement of Matatyaho Mezrahi can be seen under construction behind the separation wall.

Mohammad Faraj (11) works on his fathers land next to the separation barrier that surrounds the town Qalqiliya. A dead zone exists next to the wall further reducing the amount of available farming land.

The Wall Steakhouse which screens movies and sports projected onto the wall in Bethlehem.

Workers wait to be allowed into Israel from Bethlehem at checkpoint 300. It often takes hours of queuing in the metal cage before they can pass through the checkpoint.

Early morning at the Qalandia checkpoint, one of the main checkpoints into Jerusalem from Ramallah in the West Bank.

Abu Mohammad (65) with his grandsons Saed & Mohammad in his broken down truck he can no longer afford to fix in Bethany on the outskirts of Jerusalem. He used to be a driver before the wall was built 10 years ago and business was good. Now he has no access to Jerusalem and there is very little work in this area.

The Wall in Bethlehem.

 

Belfast Peacelines

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I finally made it back to Belfast last week to continue my long term project on Borders and Barriers.

My visit coincided with the annual July 12th Protestant Orange Order celebrations which see thousands of Orangemen, marching bands and supporter’s parade through Belfast commemorating the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 where the Protestant King William of Orange defeated the Catholic King James.

It’s a highly contentious time of year where some parades march through predominately Catholic areas creating friction and often violence between the two still deeply divided communities.The major flash point of Ardoyne in north Belfast once again saw rioting.

Below is just a small selection of images and I’ll be following up by building on the multimedia project having also shot some video and recorded many interviews.

Belfast was once again an intriguing place to work, full of very colourful characters with quite incredible histories who are now working towards creating a more peaceful future. There is still some way to go, however great progress has been made.

Youths rioting in Brompton Park road, a Catholic area of Ardoyne following the annual Orangemen parade through the area for the July 12.

Youths rioting in Brompton Park, a Catholic area of Ardoyne in north Belfast following the annual Orangemen parade past the contested Ardoyne shops on July 12.

A much smaller group of Orangemen than usual parade past the contested Ardoyne shops surrounded by PSNI riot police during the annual July 12th parades.

A much smaller group of Orangemen than usual parade past the contested Ardoyne shops in north Belfast surrounded by PSNI riot police during the annual July 12th parades.

PSNI riot police stopping Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective members from staging their own counter parade. They were eventually let through which led to brief but violent clashes.

The peace dividend has certainly paid off in central Belfast with many new shopping centres such as Victoria Square. They serve as a shared or at least neural space, generally free from sectarian divisions. However the

The peace dividend has paid off in central Belfast with many new shopping centres such as Victoria Square. They serve as a shared or at least neural space generally free from sectarian divisions.

The same cannot be said for the majority of interface areas which saw most of the violence during the conflict but have received very little since the peace signing. Here the Cupar Way peace wall seen from Conway Street, Loyalist Shankill Road area, West Belfast. Behind the wall is the Catholic side of Conway Street in the Clonard area, some of the most deprived wards in Belfast. This is the longest peace wall in Belfast and one of the first to be put up separating the Protestant Shankill Road from the Catholic falls road.

reminders of the war are present everywhere including the demarcation of territory through the use of flags and murals which often show allegiance to various banned paramilitary groups.

An Ulster volunteer Force mural in a Loyalist area of East Belfast. Reminders of the conflict are omnipresent including the demarcation of territory through the use of flags and murals which often show allegiance to various banned paramilitary groups making life returning to normality difficult.

A bonfire in Lower Shankill, West Belfast. Huge bonfires are constructed in Loyalist Protestant communities in Belfast for burning on the Eleventh Night, the eve of the annual July 12th Orange Order celebrations.

Children fly the British flag whilst protecting their bonfire in Suffolk, a Protestant enclave in the Catholic dominated area of South Belfast.

A bonfire in Tigers Bay, north Belfast. Bonfires are constructed in Loyalist Protestant communities in Belfast

A bonfire in Tigers Bay, north Belfast which is one of the most underdeveloped wards in Belfast. The Irish tricolour flag is often placed on top of the bonfires for burning as well as other sectarian symbols and banners which creates tensions between the two communities.

Signs of allegiance come in all forms including mobile phone covers. A Loyalist at the Sandy Row bonfire in central Belfast.

Loyalists celebrate the burning of the Sandy Row bonfire and Irish tricolour flag on the Eleventh night.

The Workman Avenue peace gates are only opened twice a year by Police to allow the contentious Protestant Orange Order Whiterock feeder parade in West Belfast to pass through them. The parade passes along the mostly Catholic nationalist Springfield Road interface and through the Workman Avenue peace gates then onto Shankill Road. Whilst violence at this parade has reduced over the years it does set back community relations.

Orangemen pass through the Workman Avenue peace gates. The Springfield Residents Action Group staged a peaceful protest under a heavy police presence.

Ambulatorio, an art based peace building initiative between the peace gates on the Flax Street interface in North Belfast. Artist Oscar Munoz has laid down panels of aerial pictures of north Belfast between the peace gates which will be opened for a short time allowing community members to cross the interface through this route for the first time. A confidence building concept, the installation invites residents to imagine walking around a north Belfast free of walls and gates.

Borders and Barriers-The Belfast Peacelines-Multimedia-V2

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(This is the latest version of the multimedia with a few image, transition and caption changes)

It’s taken some time but I’ve finally put together a multimedia presentation from my recent assignment to Belfast as part of the Borders and Barriers project.

It was my first time shooting video, using a lavalier mic and making pictures which was hard work but very enjoyable. Juggling all three is a real challenge and you need time and space to achieve that. I was fairly realistic about what I could produce in 10 days and am quite happy with the outcome and now I’m more experienced with the technical side I’m looking forward to the next assignment.

Much more time consuming however was learning Final Cut Pro 7 when I returned..!! It’s a monster of a program but worth every minute of training on Lynda.com. I’ve only scratched the surface on its use but wanted to put together a small presentation to see how it worked and looked. There are some changes I know I’d like to make already but this is a work in progress and needs a return trip to Belfast to complete but any comments or suggestions on any aspect of the film would be appreciated.

Do you think it needs subtitles, is the music too loud, cuts to quick, pictures up for long enough and more importantly, was it engaging and informative…? Any comments like this would be really helpful for the future. Hope you enjoy it and speak to you soon….

Thanks…

The Belfast Peacelines-V2 from Richard Wainwright on Vimeo.

Borders and Barriers-The Belfast Peace Lines

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I’ve finally recovered from jet lag and have started working on a few images from my recent trip to Belfast in Northern Ireland. This forms the third part of my long term project on borders and barriers around the world.

Although a very short trip I still managed to get around most of Belfast thanks to the many community groups who helped out. I met some fascinating people who have dedicated large parts of their lives to help understand and report on the consequences of these peacelines or peace walls and the overall situation in Northern Ireland. I also met and interviewed participants of ‘The Troubles’, many of whom spent years in prison and were released as part of the peace process and now work in community relation groups.

Belfast is quite possibly one of the friendliest places I’ve worked in but spending time in the interface areas (places where Catholic and Protestant communities live next to each other), away from the now buzzing city centre, an air of uncertainty, distrust, anxiety and underdevelopment is still very much evident. On either side of the walls, life continues as normal and many people are happy to drive from one area to another but most said there are areas they would not feel safe to walk in. In many cases, people who live just meters apart, divided by a 20 ft high multi layered barrier have never met or even have the desire to meet each other. Segregation permeates all areas of life both physically and psychologically, from housing where over 95% of social housing is either Catholic or Protestant to education where only around 5% of children attend integrated schools. Whilst most of the violence of the 90’s has stopped, rioting in flashpoints still does occur and virtually all residents who live next to the peacelines and interface areas do not want the walls to come down. At night, gates are closed to both traffic and pedestrians, effectively cutting off Protestant from Catholic areas. They feel safer, at least physiologically, with these physical barriers intact which they say they now hardly even notice.

The first peacelines where erected back at the start of ‘The Troubles’ in the late 60’s and were supposed to be temporary structures separating the Loyalist Protestant from the Republican Catholic communities. Ironically, since the peace agreement over 10 years ago, many more barriers have been built. In 1994 there were approximately 24 walls, there are now an estimated 90 structures in place throughout Belfast from obvious 20 foot high walls to thinly disguised disused houses, waste land and community gates with the latest wall being built little over 24 months ago.

I’ll be making a return trip there next year to continue this story so below are some images taken during my time there. I’m also working on editing audio and video I shot. I really enjoyed shooting video for the first time and think the audio interviews I took really add to the sense of the place. Multimedia is fast becoming the most exciting and informative way to show stories so once I’ve got the basics of FCP, I’ll post an update here.

Any questions or comments you have please get in contact……

The main peace wall that runs for over 5km dividing the predominantly Protestant Shankill Road Area from the Catholic Falls Road in West Belfast. Seen from the Catholic area of St Galls Avenue just off the Falls Road, many of the houses in this area have been rebuilt since the troubles in the 1990's

A resident of Bombay Street with the peace wall backing onto his property in West Belfast. This street became the epicenter of violence during the early days of the troubles and most of the original houses were burnt down.

Gates in peace walls all over Belfast are locked at night separating the Catholic areas from Protestant areas. Looking through the Workman Avenue gate into the Protestant Woodvale estate in West Belfast.

A resident walking past housing next to the peace wall in Protestant Woodvale area in West Belfast.

Joseph Hasett a Catholic resident on the Springfield road who lives opposite the peace wall separating them from the protestant Woodvale estate in West Belfast.

A tourist bus passes a peace wall on the Protestant Cupar Way Road in West Belfast. So called Terror Tours have become a familiar sight in West Belfast.

Caoileann Meehan (16) from the Catholic area of Springfield Road. He days he doesn't mix much with the Protestant teeanagers on the other side of the wall and believes that violence would dramatically increase if the walls came down.

Caoileann Meehan (16) from the Catholic area of Springfield Road. He says he doesn't mix with the Protestant teenagers on the other side of the wall and never goes over there. He believes that violence would dramatically increase if the walls came down.

A young Protestant family go through the Workman Avenue gate in the peace wall in West Belfast. At night the gates are closed.

Catholic houses on the Springfield Road opposite Workman Avenue, a notorious flashpoint during the marching season. The houses are bricked inbetween to stop rioters entering further into the residential area and the front windows removed.

The Shankill Road complete with British flags reflecting their allegiance to Britain. Many Protestant areas are adorned with flags as a means of identity.

Segregation is common in Northern Ireland's education system with only 3-5% of children attending mixed schools. Pupils studying at Springfield Primary School in West Belfast, a segregated Protestant School in a mostly Catholic area.

A man walks along the interface area and peace wall in Bryson Street dividing the Short Strand area of East Belfast, a Catholic enclave of about 3,500 people in a predominantly Protestant area.

Cluan Place, a Protestant area surrounding the Catholic enclave of Short Strand in East Belfast.

An old and rusty peace wall shields new housing in the Catholic New Lodge community from the Tigers Bay Protestant area on the other side in North Belfast.

L-R Padraig Smyth (18), Brian McCartney (19) and Gerard Morgin (20) on Springfield road next to the peace wall in West Belfast. They say they don't ever go over to the Protestant side of the wall. They have no bad feelings towards the Protestants but don't want the wall to come down.

A peace wall in Townsend Street looking from the Catholic side towards the Shankill Protestant area. This gate is closed at 5.30pm and opened at 7am.

he peace wall and interface in Protestant Glenbryn Park with Catholic Alliance Avenue on other side.

A peace wall and interface area in Protestant Glenbryn Park with Catholic Alliance Avenue on other side.

Borders & Barriers-Cyprus-The Buffer Zone

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Finally back in Perth after a very busy 6 weeks away working on 3 assignments in Palestine, Cyprus and Liberia which was exhausting but amazing. My project in Cyprus was cut short by a week after Cafod asked me to go to Liberia for a job at the last minute so I hope to return soon to complete this.  I’ll be posting some images from Liberia in the next few days.

These images from Cyprus continue the theme of my long term project about Borders and Barriers around the world that separates communities. The main focus of the story is the divided capital of Nicosia where the so called ‘Green Line’ or ‘Buffer Zone’ was drawn in 1974 during the height of hostilities. In some sections the buffer zone between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots is only a few meters wide. Greek and Turkish troops agreed to pull back from these inflammatory positions in 1989 and the zone is patrolled by UN Peacekeepers who have been in Cyprus since 1964, making it one of their longest running missions.

Nicosia is quite a surreal place. It has a look and feel of any other thriving Mediterranean city and via a number of checkpoints it’s easy for Greeks, Turks and tourist alike to cross over to either side. Running through the centre however is the Buffer Zone, a no mans land where homes and shops have been left abandoned and decaying since 1974. If you approach the dividing line on either side you’re likely to come across armed Greek or Turkish soldiers in bunkers and lookout posts. Dead end streets lined with concrete filled painted oil barrels with signs strictly prohibiting photography mark the border. It has a look and feel of a nation at war but the line has been peaceful for years. Walk just 10 meters back from the line and you can be sipping a beer in a neon clad café just like any other tourist spot in the world.

I was very lucky to get access there as very few people are allowed to enter and even UN troops aren’t permitted to take pictures. This eerie, derelict, bullet ridden strip of former shops and homes is a fascinating place. I hope to return to finish off the project by interviewing people who had to flee either side of the green line during the war.

A UN peacekeeping soldier patrols the narrowest section of the UN controlled Buffer Zone or the Green Line in the divided city of Nicosia on the island of Cyprus. Since 1974, abandoned shop fronts and houses just metres apart have became the front line between the Greek-Cypriot southern region and the Turkish-Cypriot northern region. Soldiers have now pulled back from these positions to help relieve the tension between both sides. Highly restricted and inaccessible to all but UN personnel, the decaying buildings have remained untouched and left to ruin for over three decades.

Cement filled oil barrels block off streets to the buffer zone from the Greek side.

Brick walls with viewing ports mostly form the barrier on the Turkish side.

Sand bags fill windows of a building on the front line on the Greek side of the buffer zone. The bullet holes reveal the intensity of the fighting that took place in this area.

With no one allowed into the buffer zone except UN peacekeepers the building have fallen into disrepair and nature allowed to take over

With no one allowed into the buffer zone except UN peacekeepers the buildings have fallen into disrepair and nature allowed to take over.

Shop front, barbed wire and oil barrels form the barrier between the two sides.

UN installed barriers have to be clearly marked. Any changes to how the buffer zone is demarcated is hotly contested by both sides

Many people living in the area fled during the fighting and have never returned to their homes. Personal possessions still remain in a virtual time warp from 1973.

Many people living in the area fled during the fighting and have never returned to their homes. Personal possessions still remain in a virtual time warp from 1974.

Ageing clothes, bottles, furniture and personal possessions from the 1970's still remain in many of the homes

Access to the buffer zone is strictly prohobitied and overseen by both Greek and Turkish troops. No photography is allowed along the wall and few people walk near the line.

Access to the buffer zone is strictly prohibited. Both Greek and Turkish troops either side of the zone keep watch and UN peacekeepers patrol the centre.

The Buffer Zone from the Greek side marked by painted oil barrels and observation posts.

Whilst industrial businesses operate close to the line few people live within the immediate area. Abandoned and war damaged houses are found all along the Greek side of the zone.

UN watch towers can be seen all along the buffer zone but since a decrease in hostilities not all are manned these days.

A street with shops and apartments suddenly comes to a stop by the buffer zone wall on the Turkish side.

A customer in the northern Turkish part of Cyprus enjoys a beer just meters from the buffer zone with the Ledra Street crossing seen behind. Since 2003 it has been possible for both Greeks and Turks to cross the buffer zone at designated crossing points and visit either side of the Island. Tourists can pass through after showing their passports. Either side of the buffer zone life and commerce continues as normal adding a surreal atmosphere to the place.

The buffer zone extends over 180km across the Island and whilst only a few meters apart in Nicosia it can be a few kilometers wide in other parts. Nicosia International airport was a scene of heavy fighting and was declared a United Nations Protected Area in 1974. It has remained unused since then and is now home to roosts of pigeons.

The departure lounge covered in pigeon droppings. With a thriving tourist industry the airport was modern for its time before closing during fighting in 1974.

Passport control booths remain unused since 1974.

Passport control booths remain unused since 1974.

UN peacekeepers from Slovakia maintain watch in the southern sector of the buffer zone. Whilst there is no physical barrier in this section entry is strictly prohibited without prior permission.

UN peacekeepers patrol the buffer zone in the southern sector. Farmers are allowed onto the land with prior permission. There are over 10,000 people allowed to live and work within the zone. Many tourists and hunters enter the zone illegally, mostly by mistake.

A UN peacekeeper looks out over the buffer zone towards the northern Turkish side of the Cyprus.

Borders & Barriers-Israeli Separation Barrier

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Just arrived back in Jordan from  assignment in Israel and Palestine. This is the first part of a long term project about physical borders and barriers around the world that separate communities due to conflict, illegal immigration or territorial issues.

I’ll be processing and editing when I’m back in Perth so below is just a quick view of what I’ve been working on. I’ll be writing a more comprehensive report and publish a fuller story in a few weeks. I’m off to Cyprus in a few days to continue the story there so will post again when I hopefully start shooting pictures on phase two of the project.

A Palestinian woman walks past a mural of the late Yasser Arafat painted on the separation wall at the Qalandiya checkpoint near the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The separation wall which works its way into the centre of Bethlehem.

After queuing up since 4am Palestinians clamber to get into the checkpoint at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem to get through to work in Jerusalem.

A schoolboy gets lost in the crowd as people try and push through the checkpoint in Qalandiya. The wall separated many children from their homes and schools and now have to speand hours each day going through the daunting checkpoint procedure to get to school.

A schoolboy gets lost in the crowd as people try and push through the checkpoint in Qalandiya. The wall separated many children from their homes and schools and they now have to spend hours each day going through the daunting checkpoint procedure to get to school.

As the checkpoint is finally opened at 6am, Palestinian workers surge forward, crushing everyone within the cage at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem.

A Palestinian worker sits exhausted on a bus waiting to take him to work in Jerusalem after queueing up at Rachel's Tomb checkpoint in Bethlehem for over 3 hours from 4am.

The separation wall between Palestine and Israel in Ar Ram near Ramallah looking into the Jerusalem region of Atarot.

A farmer waits for the agricultural gate at Attil to be opened by IDF soldiers.

IDF soldiers open North Gate, an agricultural access gate on the separation barrier in the village of Jayyus. The gate is opened 3 times a day for about 30 minutes each to give farmers access to their land they have been separated from.

IDF soldiers open North Gate, an agricultural access gate on the separation barrier in the village of Jayyus. The gate is opened 3 times a day for about 30 minutes to give farmers access to their land they have been separated from. They are effectively trapped their until the soldiers turn up again to open the gate and let them back to their village.

IDF soldiers close the Attil agricultural gate in the separation barrier near the West bank town of Tulkarm. through the Separation Barrier outside the West Bank town Tulkarm. Many of the farmers have lost the majority of their land to the barrier and have to apply for permits to cross the barrier to work.

IDF soldiers close the Attil agricultural gate in the separation barrier near the West bank town of Tulkarm. Many of the farmers have lost the majority of their land to the barrier and have to apply for permits to cross the barrier to work. Permits are often refused for no reason resulting in wasted crops and income difficulties for the farmers.

Teenagers play by the separation barrier walling off Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem.

Protesters make their way to the separation barrier in Nil'in.

Protesters throw stones over the separation wall at Israeli soldiers who reply with volleys of tear gas and live fire during the regular Friday protest in the village of Nil'in to demonstrate against land confiscation and the separation wall running through their land.

Residents and protesters try and escape clouds of tear gas fired by IDF soldiers in the village of Nil'in whilst demonstrating against land confiscation and the separation barrier.

The separation wall between Palestine and Israel in Abu Dis near Jerusalem.

The separation wall winds its way around Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem.

Thousands of workers from the Qalqiliya area arrive before 4am to pass through the checkpoint to go to work in Israel.

An Israeli check point at Qalqiliya. Thousands of workers from the area arrive at the checkpoint before 4am to pass through the checkpoint to go to work in Israel.

An Israeli check point at Qalqiliya. Thousands of workers from the area arrive at the checkpoint before 4am to pass through the checkpoint to go to work in Israel.

Palestinian taxis, buses and cars queue up at Qalandiya checkpoint to get through to Jerusalem to work. This process can take hours with no guarantee they will be allowed through.

The separation wall and Israeli watchtower in a residential area of the West Bank town of Dahiyat near Ramallah.

A protester flies the Palestinian flag at the start of the regular protest n the village of Nil'in to demonstrate against land confiscation and the separation wall.