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| Middle East |
| New Name to Give West Bank Barrier a "Softer" Image |
| 2004-01-16 |
| Yeah, that’ll work. EFL: Israel is considering a new name for its massive complex of walls, fences and watch towers in the West Bank - changing it from a "security fence" to the "Terror Prevention Fence" in an attempt to improve its international image. Image is everything. The public relations battle over the contested fence is intensifying as authorities on both sides bring in high-powered legal and publicity advisers, reportedly spending millions of dollars, ahead of a Feb. 23 world court hearing on the wall’s legality. On Thursday, the court decided that the Arab League would be allowed to take part in the hearing, allowing Arab nations to testify alongside the Palestinians. Sounds like the court has already made up it’s mind. The name change was one idea tossed around at a meeting Wednesday evening between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and high-ranking government officials, though a final decision was not made, foreign ministry spokesman Jonathan Peled said. Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor who defended O.J. Simpson, has offered to help the Israeli campaign, officials said. Well, if he could get O.J. off, maybe there is hope. Some Israeli officials already are using the new name for the project. At a news conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, a senior military official made a point of repeating several times: "This fence to my understanding is not a security fence, but an anti-terror fence." The Israeli official said the main idea behind the barrier is to prevent terrorism in hopes of creating an atmosphere in which peace talks can be re-launched. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Thursday said Israel was upset by the involvement of the world court, which he said was hurting chances for restarting peace talks. "We don’t think that this issue should be discussed there," he said. I think Rantburg readers can help by picking a new name for the barrier. And remember, "Line of Death" has been taken. Go for it. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #22 Build it high and build it wide! Dig those foundations deep and just for fun electrify it. The Happy Fun Fence TM: I LOVE it! |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-1-17 12:34:58 AM |
| #21 The Vertical Roadmap to Peace |
| Posted by: andrew k 2004-1-16 11:47:56 PM |
| #20 Whining Wall |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-1-16 9:15:14 PM |
| #19 Got it Phil! BZZZZt. We have a fast typing winner. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-16 8:08:33 PM |
| #18 "Mr. Happy Fun Fence" |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-1-16 6:40:03 PM |
| #17 How about - The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-1-16 5:58:23 PM |
| #16 Get a grant from the NEA, paint it pink call in "Running Linearity Enclosing the Past" |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-16 1:12:52 PM |
| #15 Palestinian Independence Solidarity Structure (PISS) |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2004-1-16 1:00:03 PM |
| #14 They need a new marketing approach. Don't tell them it's to keep exploding Palestinian dirtbags out.....tell them it's to keep Zionist oppression in. Can't have Zionist ideas (democracy, valuing intellectual achievement, treating yer wimminfolk like something other than breeding stock) polluting the paradise that is the Palestinian Authority! |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-1-16 12:41:48 PM |
| #13 Pals and their ilk don't call it by its proper name anyway so what's the point? Personally I'd call it either the "Judean Peoples Fence", or the "Peoples Fence of Judia". |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-1-16 11:27:31 AM |
| #12 "Don't-make-us-come-and-smack-you-again"-fence? |
| Posted by: El Id 2004-1-16 11:10:45 AM |
| #11 The Robert C. Byrd Freedom Fence. |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-1-16 11:09:29 AM |
| #10 How about "The Linear Monument Dedicated to Sub-human Savages Who Worship Death" ??? |
| Posted by: Scooter 2004-1-16 10:46:33 AM |
| #9 It's a levee of sorts. Designed to keep terrorism where it belongs - in Palestinian-populated areas. :) |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-1-16 10:40:49 AM |
| #8 I thought Rantburg setup was standard on XP? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-16 10:34:58 AM |
| #7 To paraphrase the Bard: A fence by any other name smells.... |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2004-1-16 10:32:18 AM |
| #6 trash container? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-1-16 10:21:39 AM |
| #5 Gah. That was me. I can't believe this machine doesn't have Rantburg setup! |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-1-16 10:05:32 AM |
| #4 Splodeydope Exclusion Structure? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-1-16 10:04:50 AM |
| #3 Do not taunt Happy Fun Wall™! |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-1-16 10:03:48 AM |
| #2 They can go two ways with the fence. Make it a holy site, or be vulgar about the name. Fence of Saint Pancake Stay the $#%@ Out Fence |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-1-16 9:31:40 AM |
| #1 Ok, since it is verboten for the Jews to defend themselves in any way, let's come up with something that doesn't use words that make the Arabs seethe. Can't have the Arabs seething with humiliation, now, can we. Hmm...how about "Happy Fun Racquetball Wall"? Who could be against that? Especially if they paint smiley faces, flowers and baby ducks on it. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-1-16 9:29:58 AM |