Building a Wall in Israel - Free Essays and Reports for Students and Teachers

The name Bethlehem summons feelings of joy and peace in many, but Jesus' birthplace today is far removed from an idyllic nativity scene. To reach it, pilgrims have to first cross the Israeli Defense Wall, dubbed "the wall of shame" or apartheid wall by Bethlehem's inhabitants. Its 500 miles of 9-meter-high concrete, built to keep terrorists out of Israel, surround all the territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority, including Bethlehem. After baggage checks, ID inspections, and passage through multiple security gates, a large message surrounded by barbed wire from the Israel Ministry of Tourism greets pilgrims: "Peace be with you."

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last night said his country was at war with Palestinian terrorists and branded Yasser Arafat "the enemy of the free world".

Sharon went on TV hours after 15 Israelis died and 68 were wounded in three more suicide bombings.

He accused the Palestinian leader of "directing a campaign of terrorism against the Jewish state", adding: "We cannot compromise with those who are ready...to die only to kill innocent civilians."

PALESTINIAN suicide bombers killed 12 people and wounded more than 40 yesterday after Israeli troops attacked Yasser Arafat's Ramallah HQ.

The twin blasts brought to five the number of suicide bombings in five days.

The back-to-back explosions look set to fuel a major Israeli offensive in Palestinian areas, launched last week in response to a string of bloody attacks on Israeli civilians.

In Israel itself, opinion is divided about whether the new wall will bring safety or only further isolation. For Palestinians, it's only the latest in a long string of hurdles, some inflicted by the Israelis but equally by the corruption and terrorism of their own administration.

2000 (5 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
Gaza bombing	October 26, 2000	Gaza Strip	1 injured	Youth suicide bomber on bike. Palestinian Islamic Jihadclaimed responsibility.
2nd Mahane Yehuda Market attack	November 2, 2000	Jerusalem	2	Booby-trapped car. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
2nd Kfar Darom bombing	November 20, 2000	Gaza Strip	2	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Hadera main street bombing	November 22, 2000	Hadera	2	Booby-trapped car. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Mehola bombing	December 22, 2000	Mehola Junction	3 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.

[edit]2001 (40 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
Netanya centre bombing	January 1, 2001	Netanya	60 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Tayibe Bridge bombing	January 30, 2001	Tayibe	2 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Beit Yisrael bombing	February 8, 2001	Jerusalem	2 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Mei Ami junction bombing	March 1, 2001	Vadi Ara	1	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Netanya bombing	March 4, 2001	Netanya	3	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Talpiot industrial zone bombing	March 27, 2001	Jerusalem	7 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Egged bus 6 bombing	March 27, 2001	French Hill, Jerusalem	28 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Mifgash Shalom attack	March 28, 2001	Mifgash Shalom gas station, Kfar Sava	2	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Kfar Sava bombing	April 22, 2001	Kfar Sava	1	Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Or Yehuda bombing	April 23, 2001	Near Ben Gurion Airport	8 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Nablus school bus bombing	April 29, 2001	Nablus, West Bank	None	Hamas claimed responsibility.
HaSharon Mall suicide bombing	May 18, 2001	HaSharon shopping mall, Netanya	5	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Hadera Mall bombing	May 25, 2001	Hadera	None	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Hadera bus station suicide bombing	May 25, 2001	Central bus station, Hadera	65 injured	2 Palestinians within a car bomb. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Jerusalem Center bombing	May 27, 2001	Jerusalem	None	PFLP claimed responsibility.
Jaffa Road bombing	May 27, 2001	Jerusalem	30 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Netanya school bombing	May 30, 2001	Netanya	8 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Dolphinarium discotheque suicide bombing	June 1, 2001	Tel Aviv	21	Hamas claimed responsibility.[6]
Dugit bombing	June 22, 2001	Gaza Strip	2	Booby trapped car's explosion. Hamasclaimed responsibility.
Yehud suburb bombing	July 2, 2001	Tel Aviv	6 injured	Explosion of two separate bombs. PFLPclaimed responsibility.
Kissufim bombing	July 9, 2001	Southern Gaza Strip crossing point	None	Explosion of two separate bombs. Hamasclaimed responsibility.
Binyamina train station suicide bombing	July 16, 2001	Binyamina	2	Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Moshav Beka'ot bombing	August 8, 2001	Northern Jordan Valley	1 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing	August 9, 2001	Downtown Jerusalem	15	Carried out by Hamas together withPalestinian Islamic Jihad.
Wall-Street Restaurant bombing	August 12, 2001	Kiryat Motzkin	21 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Russian Compound bombing	August 21, 2001	Downtown Jerusalem	1 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Jerusalem car bombings	September 3, 2001	Jerusalem	3 injured	Series of car bombs.
Hanevi'im street bombing	September 4, 2001	Jerusalem	20 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Nahariya train station suicide bombing	September 9, 2001	Nahariya train station	3	Suicide bomber was an Arab Israeli citizen.Hamas claimed responsibility.
Beit Lid junction bombing	September 9, 2001	Near Netanya	17 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Talpiot neighborhood bombing	October 1, 2001	Jerusalem	None	Hamas claimed responsibility.
1st Erez Crossing attack	October 7, 2001	Erez Passage near Gaza	None	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Kibbutz Shluhot bombing	October 7, 2001	Kibbutz Shluhot	1	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
2nd Erez Crossing attack	November 26, 2001	Gaza Strip	2 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
1st Egged bus 823 bombing	November 29, 2001	Wadi Ara Junction	3	Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihadtogether with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Ben Yehuda Street Bombing	December 1, 2001	Downtown Jerusalem	11	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Haifa bus 16 suicide bombing	December 2, 2001	Haifa	15	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Hilton Mamilla bombing	December 5, 2001	Mamilla, Jerusalem	11 injured	Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihadtogether with Hamas.
Check Post Junction bombing	December 9, 2001	Check Post Junction in the direction of Tel Hanan (Haifa area)	30 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Neve Dekalim bombing	December 12, 2001	Neve Dekalim	4 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.

[edit]2002 (47 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
Tel Aviv outdoor mall bombing	January 25, 2002	Tel Aviv	25 injured	Double Suicide attack, carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihadtogether with Fatah.
Jaffa Street bombing	January 27, 2002	Jerusalem	1	First female suicide bomber in Al-Aqsa Intifada, Wafa Idris. Hamasclaimed responsibility.
Tayibe bombing	January 31, 2002	Tayibe	None	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Karnei Shomron Mall suicide bombing	February 16, 2002	Karnei Shomron,West Bank	3	About 30 injuries (6 seriously). PFLP claimed responsibility.[7][8]
Maale Adumim - Jerusalem road bombing	February 18, 2002	Jerusalem	1	Soldier killed by an explosive that was detonated by the driver of the car he was checking. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Efrat supermarket bombing attack	February 22, 2002	Efrat, West Bank	1 injured	Suicide bomber in supermarket.
Maccabim bombing	February 27, 2002	Maccabim,West Bank	3 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Yeshivat Beit Yisrael massacre	March 2, 2002	Yeshiva in Jerusalem	11	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
2nd Egged bus 823 bombing	March 5, 2002	Afula	1	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.[8]
Ariel hotel lobby bombing	March 7, 2002	Ariel, West Bank	15 injured (1 seriously)	PFLP claimed responsibility.[8]
Café Moment bombing	March 9, 2002	Rehavia, Jerusalem	11	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Egged bus 22 bombing	March 17, 2002	Jerusalem	25 Injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
3rd Egged bus 823 bombing	March 20, 2002	Vadi Ara, Muzmuz Junction	7	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
King George Street bombing	March 21, 2002	Jerusalem	3	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Passover massacre	March 27, 2002	Netanya	30	Suicide attack on Passover seder in Park Hotel. Carried out byHamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Kiryat HaYovel supermarket bombing	March 29, 2002	Kiryat Yovel in Jerusalem	2	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Allenby Street coffee shop bombing	March 30, 2002	Tel Aviv	1	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Baqa al-Gharbiyah bombing	March 30, 2002	Baqa al-Gharbiyah	1	Booby-trapped vehicle that Palestinians tried to sneak into Israel.
Matza restaurant suicide bombing	March 31, 2002	Haifa	15	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Efrat Medical Center	March 31, 2002	Efrat, West Bank	4 injured (1 seriously)	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Jerusalem Roadblock bombing	April 1, 2002	Jerusalem	1	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Yagur Junction bombing	April 10, 2002	Yagur	8	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
3rd Mahane Yehuda Market attack	April 12, 2002	Jerusalem	6	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Rishon LeZion bombing	May 7, 2002	Rishon LeZion	15	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Netanya Market bombing	May 19, 2002	Netanya	3	Carried out by Hamas together with PFLP.
Afula road bombing	May 20, 2002	Afula	None	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Rothschild Street bombing	May 22, 2002	Rishon Lezion	2	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Pi Glilot bombing	May 23, 2002	North of Tel Aviv	None	A bomb exploded underneath a fuel truck. The truck burst into flames, but the blaze was quickly contained.
Studio 49 Disco bombing	May 24, 2002	Tel Aviv	5 injured	The security guard opened fire on a Palestinian attempting to detonate a car bomb. The Palestinian was killed, but the bomb exploded prematurely, injuring bystanders.
Petah Tikva Mall bombing	May 27, 2002	Petah Tikva	2	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Megiddo Junction bus bombing	June 5, 2002	Megiddo Junction	17	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Herzliya shawarma restaurant bombing	June 11, 2002	Herzliya	1	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Patt Junction Bus Bombing	June 18, 2002	Jerusalem	19	Hamas claimed responsibility.
French Hill Junction massacre	June 19, 2002	French Hill, Jerusalem	7	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Immanuel bus attack	July 16, 2002	Emmanuel-Bnei Brak bus 189	9	Detonation of an explosive device and shooting. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Neve Shaanan Street bombing	July 17, 2002	Southern Tel Aviv	5	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Nevi'im Street bombing	July 30, 2002	Jerusalem	5 injured	Apparently the bomb exploded prematurely.
Hebrew University massacre	July 31, 2002	Hebrew University, Jerusalem	9	Included American and French casualties. Bomber was from East Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Meron Junction Bus 361 attack	August 4, 2002	Meron Junction	9	Arab bomber with Israeli citizenship. Hamas claimed responsibility.
1st Umm al-Fahm bombing	August 5, 2002	Umm al-FahmJunction in Wadi Ara	1 injured	The Palestinian exploded in a taxi killing himself and wounding an Israeli-Arab driver from Nazareth.
2nd Umm al-Fahm bombing	September 18, 2002	Umm al-FahmJunction in Wadi Ara	1	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Allenby Street bus bombing	September 19, 2002	bus 4, near the Great Synagogue, Tel Aviv	6	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Geha road bombing	October 10, 2002	Bar-Ilan interchange, Geha road	1	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Karkur junction suicide bombing	October 21, 2002	Carcur Junction	14	2 Suicide bombers used a booby-trapped jeep with 100 KG TNT.Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Sonol gas station bombing	October 27, 2002	Ariel, West Bank	3	Victims killed while trying to prevent the Palestinian from detonating the bomb. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Kfar Sava shopping mall bombing	November 4, 2002	Kfar Sava	2	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kiryat Menachem bus bombing	November 21, 2002	Kiryat Menahem, Jerusalem	11	Hamas claimed responsibility.

[edit]2003 (23 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
Tel-Aviv central bus station massacre	January 5, 2003	Southern Tel Aviv	23	Carried out by two members of the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, with the help of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Haifa bus 37 suicide bombing	March 5, 2003	Carmeliya neighborhood, Haifa	17	Carried out by Hamas member and attributed to Hamas, yet never acknowledged.
London Cafe bombing	March 30, 2003	Netanya	54 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kfar Sava train station bombing	April 24, 2003	Kfar Sava	1	13 injured (2 seriously). PFLP claimed responsibility jointly withAl-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.[8][9]
Mike's Place suicide bombing	April 30, 2003	Mike's Place pub, Tel Aviv	3	Carried out by Hamas using a British Muslim citizen of Pakistani descent and together with al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Gross square attack	May 17, 2003	Gross square,Hebron, West Bank	2	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Jerusalem bus 6 bombing	May 18, 2003	Jerusalem	7	Hamas claimed responsibility.
3rd Kfar Darom bombing	May 19, 2003	Gaza Strip	3 injured	A Palestinian suicide bomber riding a bicycle blew up himself next to a military jeep. Hamas claimed responsibility.
Afula mall bombing	May 19, 2003	Afula shopping center	3	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Netzarim bus bombing	May 22, 2003	Netzarim, Gaza Strip	9 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Davidka Square bus bombing	June 11, 2003	Downtown Jerusalem	17	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Sdei Trumot bombing	June 19, 2003	Moshav Sdei Trumot	1	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kfar Yavetz bombing	July 7, 2003	Kfar Yavetz	1	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Ariel bus station bombing	August 12, 2003	Ariel, West Bank	2	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Rosh HaAyin bombing	August 12, 2003	Rosh HaAyin	1
Shmuel HaNavi bus bombing	August 19, 2003	Shmuel Hanavi, Jerusalem	23	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Tzrifin bus stop attack	September 9, 2003	Bus stop nearTzrifin army base	9	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Café Hillel bombing	September 9, 2003	Hillel Cafe, Jerusalem	7	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Maxim restaurant suicide bombing	October 4, 2003	Haifa	21	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Tulkarem bombing	October 9, 2003	Tulkarem, West Bank	3 injured	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Beit Hanoun Junction bombing	October 15, 2003	Gaza Strip	3	The victims were part of a US diplomatic convoy.
Azzoun bombing	November 3, 2003	Azzoun, West Bank	1 injured	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Geha Interchange bus stop bombing	December 25, 2003	Geha Junction	4	Over 20 injured. PFLP claimed responsibility.[8][9]

[edit]2004 (18 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
3rd Erez Crossing attack	January 14, 2004	Gaza Strip	4	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade and Hamas claimed joint responsibility.
Gaza Street bus bombing	January 29, 2004	Rehavia, Jerusalem	11	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade and Hamas claimed responsibility.
Liberty Bell Park bus bombing	February 22, 2004	Liberty Bell Garden, Jerusalem	8	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade claimed responsibility.
4th Erez Crossing attack	March 6, 2004	Gaza Strip	3	The victims were Palestinian policemen who died in a shooting spree and suicide car bomb attack. Two of the vehicles exploded on the Palestinian side of the crossing. Four Palestinians were killed. There were no IDF casualties. Hamas,Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the military wing of Fatah claimed responsibility.
Ashdod Port massacre	March 14, 2004	Port ofAshdod	10	Double suicide bombing. Carried out by Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade together withHamas.
5th Erez Crossing attack	April 17, 2004	Erez Crossing, Gaza Strip	1	Carried out by Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade together with Hamas.
Deir al-Balah suicide attack	April 26, 2004	Gaza Strip	2	The victims were Palestinians killed when a suicide bomber detonated himself on the way to carry out an attack in Israel.
Gaza bomber struck	April 30, 2004	Gaza Strip	4 injured	The bomber's original target was a bus full of Jewish settlers, but the bus slipped away and the bomber missed it, so instinctively went for the next available target, which was an Israeli army patrol, injuring all four soldiers. Carried out by Hamas.
Beka'ot checkpoint bombing	May 22, 2004	Beka'otcheckpoint,Jordan Valley,West Bank	1 injured	PFLP claimed responsibility.[8][10]
Tel Aviv bus stop bombing	July 11, 2004	Tel Aviv	1	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Kalandia checkpoint attack	August 11, 2004	Kalandia,West Bank	2	The victims were Palestinian bystanders. 18 people (including six Border Policemen) were injured.
Beersheba bus bombings	August 31, 2004	DowntownBeershebaon buses 7 and 12	16	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Baka al-Sharkiyeh checkpoint attack	September 8, 2004	Near theGreen Lineborder with the West Bank	None	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Kalandia Gate suicide bombing	September 14, 2004	South of Kalandia,West Bank	2 injured	A suicide bomber riding on a bicycle blew himself up near an armored IDF jeep at an agricultural gate.
French Hill Junction bombing	September 22, 2004	French Hill, Jerusalem	2	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
Sinai bombings	October 7, 2004	Sinai peninsula,Egypt	34	Suicide bombing at two Sinai holiday resorts frequented by Israeli tourists: thirty-one died at the Taba Hilton and three at Ras a-Satan. Among the dead were 12 Israelis; over 120 were wounded. The attack was masterminded by Iyad Salehand carried out by a Palestinian group.
Carmel Market bombing	November 1, 2004	Tel Aviv	3	Over 30 injured. PFLP claimed responsibility.[8][11]
Karni Crossing attack	December 7, 2004	Karni Crossing, Gaza Strip	1	An IDF soldier of the Oketz canine unit was killed by a bomb, along with his dog, when a booby-trapped chicken coup exploded northwest of the Karni Crossing. Four soldiers were wounded in the exchange of fire while evacuating him. Hamasclaimed responsibility for the attack.

[edit]2005 (9 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
Morag attack	January 12, 2005	Morag, Southern Gaza Strip	1	One Israeli civilian was killed and three IDF soldiers wounded when a bomb was detonated against a military vehicle patrolling the route near Morag. Two Palestinians were killed by IDF forces. The area was booby-trapped with explosive devices, in addition to the bomb that exploded. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Karni border crossing attack	January 13, 2005	Karni crossing, Gaza Strip	6	Carried out together by Hamas with Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Popular Resistance Committees.
Gush Katif checkpoint attack	January 18, 2005	Gush Katif, Gaza Strip	1	Hamas claimed responsibility.
Stage Club bombing	February 25, 2005	Tel Aviv sea promenade	5	Carried out together with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and with Hizballah involvement.
1st HaSharon Mall suicide bombing	July 12, 2005	Netanya	5	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Beersheba central bus station bombing	August 28, 2005	Beersheba	50 injured, 2 critically	Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad together with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Hadera Market bombing	October 26, 2005	Hadera	7	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
2nd HaSharon Mall suicide bombing	December 5, 2005	Netanya	5	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Tulkarem roadblock bombing	December 29, 2005	NearTulkarem,West Bank	3	One Israeli soldier was killed when a Palestinian en route to carry out an attack in Israel was discovered and detonated himself at a checkpoint. A second intended suicide bomber was also killed in the blast as well as the driver and a third passenger. Three soldiers and seven Palestinians were also wounded.

[edit]2006 (3 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
1st Rosh Ha'ir restaurant bombing	January 19, 2006	Near Tel Aviv old central bus station	31 injured	Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Kedumim bombing	March 30, 2006	Kdumim, West Bank	4	Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.
2nd Rosh Ha'ir restaurant bombing	April 17, 2006	Near Tel Aviv old central bus station	11	68 injured. Carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad together with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.

[edit]2007 (1 bombing)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
Eilat bakery bombing	January 29, 2007	Eilat	3	Both Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claim joint responsibility.

[edit]2008 (2 bombings)

Name	Date	Location	Death toll	Notes
Dimona bombing	February 4, 2008	Dimona	1	9 injuries. Carried out by Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades together with Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).[12]
Kerem Shalom suicide bombing	April 19, 2008	Kerem Shalomborder crossing, Gaza Strip	13 injured	Three Palestinian suicide bombers broke through the border fence to attack the Kerem Shalom IDF post, blowing themselves up and wounding several Israeli soldiers. Hamas claimed responsibility.