Walls, fences and border barriers of Israel, the USA and Finland

More than 20 years ago, Israel began building a network of walls and fences and closed military roads on its border with the West Bank. 85% of the still unfinished barrier is in the West Bank, separating almost 10% of its territory. Palestinians see it as an illegal land grab, and the International Court of Justice decided in 2004 that the barrier was “contrary to international law.” According to Israeli authorities, the barriers were designed to prevent attackers from crossing into Israel from the West Bank.

Due to the growing migration pressure on the Finnish-Russian border and the actions of Russia transporting migrants there, the Finnish authorities decided to build border barriers. In 2024–2025, approximately 70 km of fences will be built at border crossings and in their vicinity. According to current plans, the fence will be approximately 200 km long and will be completed in 2026, mainly on the southeastern part of the state border.

In the US, doctors working in hospitals along the border with Mexico report a significant increase in the number of patient deaths and admissions of people with injuries – broken limbs, spines, as well as skull fractures. All the patients are migrants who were trying to breach the wall separating Mexico and the United States. The network of barriers there dates back to the 1990s and was initiated under President Clinton. Each subsequent US administration has continued that work, with President Trump making the “wall” the centrepiece of his immigration agenda. President Biden, however, allowed the expansion of barriers in South Texas.