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Cut off from feeding grounds

Imad Atrash is the Palestine Wildlife Society Executive Director and says the barrier divides animal families. In an interview with DW, he explained that before thebarrier was built, between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the red fox population was separated by a fence. "The male was on the Israeli side and the female was inside Palestinian lands," he said. "The maledug a hole and came to the female."
Eine Schliefer, in der Nähe von der Israelische Sperranlagen (West Bank barrier). Palestine Wildlife Society Executive Director Imad Atrash , Bild gemacht in 200 Ahydrax, or rock rabbit, sits near the West Bank barrier

But then the West Bank barrier was built. "How many families of animals were separated in the West Bank?" Atrash asked.

Israeli ecologistRon Frumkin says the barrier has had a significant impact on local species of gazelle, ibex, fox, porcupine and badger. He said splitting animal families often results in genetic mutation andinbreeding.

"Many animals that live here, need their habitats, or breeding and feeding areas," he said. "They can eat in one place but hide in another place. So animals, especially the bigger ones, needopen space for their existence."
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man (L) overlooks the Palestian town of Bethlehem as he stands at the end of a raffiti-painted protective wall in the Gilo neighborhood in thesouthern part of Jerusalem that is due to be taken down in the coming days, Jerusalem, Israel on 14 August 2010. The wall was was put up during the 'al-Aqsa Intifada,' the second Palestinian uprisingthat began in 2000, and was meant to protect Gilo residents from bullets fired from nearby Bethlehem and Beit Jala, some of which did hit Israeli homes in that era. Israel now thinks the walls are notneeded for protection. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER The wall blocks animals that breed in one place and feed in another

Frumkin's reports on the ecological impact of the barrier have made it to Israel's...