Photographer Amnon Gutman has offered this body of work about Palestinians trying to go through the barrier between Israel and the West Bank in order to work inside Israel, mainly as builders.
“In June 2002, the government of Israel decided to erect a physical barrier to separate Israel and the West Bank in order to prevent the uncontrolled entry of Palestinians into Israel. Israel has the right and duty to protect its citizens from attacks. However, the building of the Separation Barrier as a means to prevent attacks inside Israel is the most extreme solution that causes the greatest harm to the local population. Israel preferred this solution over alternate options that would cause less harm.
Palestinians try to go through the barrier (in areas where the barrier still has some openings), in order to work inside Israel, mainly as builders. A day’s work in the west bank usually comes to 60-80 NIS, while a day’s work in Israel: 250-400 NIS.
Staying illegally in Israel, means, most of the Palestinian workers will have to sleep in desperate conditions- river creeks, under highways, building sites, or just in the streets, trying to avoid getting caught.
Israeli border patrol and army, are trying to apprehend these Palestinians, as terror threats always exists…… meaning an endless chase, that cycles: as the illegal workers are caught, they are being checked for planning terror attacks, if “cleared” as a non threat to the state of Israel, they are being returned to the west bank, and than try to go through the barrier again, in order to keep on working, providing for their families.
This is an on going project 2009-2010
