Human health security in Palestine : how has the barrier wall affected Palestinians’ human security? : a specific study relevant to the physical and psychological Health in Ezariya and Abu Dis, East Jerusalem

Abstract

The previous studies on human security in Palestine focused on the several types of security, i.e., the state of being free from danger or threat. These include economic security, political security, environmental security, community security, personal security and health security. In Palestine proper, the focus on health security has not been sufficient, especially in terms of the effects of the Barrier wall on the physical and psychological health of Palestinians as well as their lives and well-being. This research will investigate the effects of the Barrier wall on Palestinians physical and psychological health security in two problematic areas of Ezariya, and Abu Dis in East Jerusalem. The research will be based on analyzing the effects of the Barrier itself, in addition to how Israeli forces implement control of Palestinian populations on both sides of the barriers through checkpoints, towers, and passages located at the barrier. It is important to investigate, analyze and highlight this problem in literature because the vital core of human security is human health security and subsequently human lives. While good health, well-being and survival are all necessary to enhance human freedoms as a whole, the absence of freedom and the constant presence of fear jeopardize one‟s right to live in dignity. To this end, this research paper adapts qualitative method, in depth face-to- face interviews with ordinary citizens in the field, in addition to focus groups and observation. This study reveals how Palestinians are subjected to health security threats and are living under health insecurity conditions. Specifically to this study, their physical and psychological health are affected directly and indirectly because of the barrier, the checkpoints, points of entry, which are all controlled by Israel. Israel imposes restrictions on Palestinians and often initiates obstacles to freely access health facilities on the Israeli controlled side, which constitutes a direct threat to those in need of immediate care.