Jerusalem and the 40th Anniversary of the Six Days War

June 5th marks the 40th Anniversary of the beginning of the Six Days War. The LA Times is running a three part story on the anniversary, a series that began yesterday (Sunday with a piece on the dividedness of the city. It highlights the affects of unification, the implications, and the growing disparity between Israeli and Palestinian -- along with the political issues that have pushed the two communities further apart. It's an excellent piece.

Today's article focuses on the barrier -- wall -- fence -- it's called something different by different people. It is, in most places tall, cement and formidable. Click here to see a set of photos.

To Israeli's it's protection to Palestinians it represents loss of control of their destiny. According to today's article the barrier has had the unforeseen consequence of drawing in even more Palestinians into Jerusalem from the West Bank. Some for political reasons, but others for economic ones. Thus Jerusalem is seeing an increased Palestinian population.

"The fence is not political. It's not a border. It's only a security fence," said Nezah Mashiah, an official at Israel's Defense Ministry who oversees the project. A system of crossing points should ensure that people with a right to enter Jerusalem are not impeded, Mashiah said.

But Palestinians are skeptical.

For many, moving back into the city is an act of nationalism, aimed at countering what they view as an Israeli effort to reduce their numbers and undermine their aspirations to make East Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian state. For most others, even if they want nothing else to do with Israeli authorities, the purpose is access to jobs, healthcare, social security and other benefits Israel provides to Jerusalem residents.

Forty years later the divide continues and efforts to bring peace are still unfulfilled.