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OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 7/19/10

Israel's Separation Wall: A Health Hazard

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Barta'a straddles the Green Line in the northern Wadi Ara region near Jenin. Council member Abu Rami, responsible for coordinating with Israeli authorities, lost his mother at a checkpoint because security guards ordered her ambulance sent back. As a result, he relates to others in need saying:


"I deal almost daily with cases of sick people who need to cross the checkpoint. Anyone who cannot walk needs special coordination with the Israelis as well as anyone who has to cross (at) night when (it's) closed. Expectant mothers leave the village weeks before (giving) birth, just to make sure (they can) reach the hospital in time." What used to be a 15-minute drive to Jenin, now takes about an hour or longer.


"I know the procedure and I have all the telephone numbers," he said. Yet, "I could not even save my own mother."


Access to East Jerusalem Hospitals


Its six hospitals provide most specialized care to West Bank residents, unavailable to most Gazans under siege, including dialysis, oncology, open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, neonatal intensive care, eye surgery, and rehabilitation for handicapped children.


Restricted access began prior to the Wall's construction. In 1993, Israel required permits for non-East Jerusalemites, including for medical care. At the time, doctors needed permission from the Palestinian Ministry of Health's Referral Abroad Department (RAD) to access hospitals. If granted, the convoluted procedure required patients to arrange appointments, RAD or the hospital then needing Israeli Civil Administration permits to keep them.


The combination of illness and stress waiting for permit issuance or denial is further complicated when multiple visits or operations are required. In addition, males aged 15 - 30 are often denied for security reasons, and parents are impeded from getting treatment for sick children or family members.


Permits are also invalid during closure periods - 50 occurring from April 2009 - March 2010 for "security alerts" or Israeli holidays, and unannounced ones can occur any time.


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