Yesterday a man tried to cross me. I didn’t really mind. In fact, I didn’t react at all. But the other man with the gun did, the guard. It did not end well.

As walls go (or wall-and-fence-barrier which is what I am strictly speaking), I’m quite laid back really. Most of the time I just want to keep people safe, like all walls do, or give people something to climb so they can see further. Most walls just want to help. I mean a house without walls is basically a marquee. People – humans – tend to need walls. Which is odd but whatever.

But most walls will also agree that they are used by humans to do things that are bizarre, pointless or downright immoral. Take the Wailing Wall for instance – he’s called Eddie. You couldn’t meet a nicer wall; well what’s left of him. Always cheerful, always friendly. And to be wailed at, loudly, by milions of people a year (literally millions, sheesh) must give even the most tolerant wall the hump.

Now me, I’m used as a barrier – well that’s what I’m called; the West Bank Barrier. Much like Hans in Berlin was before he went the way of Jericho. Because for some reason humans like division. The people who built me obviously wanted to keep the suicide bombers out, ok, but generally I’ve noticed that humans like barriers. They need barriers. Us and Them, with Them firmly Over There, so We can feel united and They can be blamed for, well, everything.

Which is ironic because to me, you’re all exactly the same. You must really like arguing or something. To us walls, though, it’s only so much noise. Or wailing. And the lucky ones find love (Hans and Checkpoint Charlie, for instance, well that was a scandal but they were different times). But the rest of us just become really really grumpy.

So if I lurk and loom a little now and again, forgive me. Because Isralestine is so beautiful on both sides of me – I just wish you could see it.