Has the West Bank Separation Barrier saved any lives?

Yes, the "separation" fence has absolutely saved lives.

Israel's goal is peace, which is precisely why the SECURITY FENCE is built, to protect her citizens from terrorist violence.

(I've edited this because I found even better statistics for you.)

"In the 11 months between the erection of the first segment at the beginning of August 2003 and the end of June 2004, the Samaria-based terrorist groups have succeeded in carrying out only three atrocities within Israel. All three occurred in the first half of 2003, during which 26 Israelis were murdered and 76 wounded. (In two of the cases, the terrorists infiltrated via areas in Samaria where the fence was not yet completed. In the third, a female terrorist entered through the Barta'a crossing using a Jordanian passport.)

In contrast, during the 34 months from the beginning of the violence in September 2000 until the construction of the first continuous segment of the anti-terrorist fence at the end of July 2003, between Salem and Elkana in Samaria, Samaria-based terrorists carried out 73 atrocities (suicide bombings, shootings, car bombings) within Israel (including Jerusalem) in which 293 Israelis were killed and 1950 wounded.

A comparison of the above data shows a decrease of slightly more than 90% in the number of attacks: from an average of 26 attacks a year before the fence, to three attacks after erection of the anti-terrorist fence. This means a decrease of more than 70% in the number of Israelis murdered: from an average of 103 slain per year before the fence to 28 after erection of the fence. Similarly, this means a drop of more than 85% in the number of wounded: from an average of 688 a year before the fence to 83 wounded per year after it was built.

While the number of attacks dropped sharply, the number of attempted attacks that were foiled in various stages of preparation since the erection of the anti-terrorist fence in August 2003 remained high. During this period, the security forces prevented dozens of attacks by Samaria-based terrorist groups in the final stages of preparation. As a result of the arrests of terrorists and heads of cells, 24 explosive belts and bombs were discovered."
http://www.securityfence.mod.gov.il/page...

In general, the organizations operating in Samaria exploit the areas where the fence and buffer zone have not been completed to dispatch terrorists to Israel. Collaborating with organizations in Judea, especially around Ramallah, they infiltrate their operatives in through the areas around East Jerusalem and Judea."
http://securityfence.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/...

In other words, terrorists continue to get in where there is no fence, but where there is a fence, their attempts are thwarted.

The security fence:
1. Does not establish a border of any kind.
2. Does not annex any Palestinian lands to Israel.
3. Does not change the legal status of any Palestinians.
4. Does not prevent Palestinians from going about their lives.

"The security fence currently being built between the Palestinians in the West Bank and Israeli population centers is a defensive measure. It is designed to prevent terrorists from carrying out attacks in Israel. Its path was chosen in accordance with security and topographic considerations, while making every effort to minimize disruption to the daily lives of the local Palestinian population."

Is it effective? Of course!

"The fence has proven to be quite effective. According to a study compiled by the Israel Security Agency (see "Four Years of Conflict") the fence has deeply effected the ability of terrorists to carry out attacks, thwarted suicide bombings and has led to a dramatic decline in the number of Israeli casualties and wounded, despite the fact that the fence has yet to be completed. For example, in the period between August 2003 through August 2004, there was a dramatic decrease of 84% in the number of Israelis killed by terror attacks as compared with the period between September 2001 through July 2002. The security fence remains important even in the current atmosphere of Israel carrying on a dialogue with the Palestinian Authority."
http://www.securityfence.mod.gov.il/page...

Is it the only one in the world?
Come on! The only border fence in the world? You've got to be kidding, right? Here in the US, for example, we've got a very long one between the US and Mexico.

Why do they want to remove the fence?
Well you see, it makes it harder for terrorist activity, and this creates quite a hassle for the terrorists. So they blame Israel for protecting her citizens against them. If only Israel would leave it open in order to more senseless murders to take place!

Not true. The better question would be if the barrier destroyed any lives. The answer is yes. The barrier cuts through Palestinian farms and lands in zig-zag and even encircles entire villages cutting them from the rest of Palestine. The wall de facto annexes big share of West Bank's most fertile land and water resources to Israel. If the purpose is to save the lives on the Israeli side from West Bank attacks, why didn't Israel just build the wall on the border with West Bank? This way lives would be saved without destroying lives and properties on the other side. But of course that was not the purpose. People who support the barrier in its current form either believe that destroying Palestinian lives as collective punishment for suicide attacks is okay, or that Palestinian lives are less important than Israeli - I can't think of any other explanation. Either way I view this group of people as no different than the Nazis or apartheid South Africans. Ask yourself, what did Israel do to protect THE PALESTINIANS from ILLEGAL settlers attacks? Nothing, the settlements only continue to flourish. This proves my original point.

Considering that there was a noticeable decrease in suicide bombings immediately after the wall's construction in certain areas, I'd say that it saved lives. Israelis, at least, attribute the decline in deaths to the wall, which is why many support it. Since I care about Israeli life, I support it too, because I don't want to remember what it is like to be that 10-year old boy who wonders if his cousin across the sea died today after hearing about x bombing in Israel. It's not the only barrier in the world separating two entities with hostile relations, since there are others to be sure.

The Palestinians want the barrier removed because it is costly to them economically. I recognize this, and I feel for them. However, while I can accept that the barrier perhaps can be placed differently, it's existence is something that I won't deny. They see the barrier, however, as a big obstacle, which I have personal doubts about, and I think that it's purposely being made to be a bigger evil to them than it should be. I don't perceive that the people have recognized that the evils produced from their society are the ones to blame for it's construction, since it's costly and as such Israelis wouldn't build it out of spite like many assume. They want it removed because it would also mean that it may be easier to enter Israel, for jobs (though for attacks, too, for those select few) and it would also mean the removal of an Israeli display of power. A display, I might add, that the Israelis don't want to display.

Yes the security fence prevents palestinian terrorists from entering Israel and killing innocent Israeli civillians Esthers post pretty much says it all so dont really have anything to add the topic other than dont listen to the BBC especially when it concerns Israel as they are unbelieveably bias. For months rockets were being fired from Gaza into Israel putting innocent civillian lives at risk and the BBC hardly said a word about it until Israel finally retaliated and fought back then there was constant coverage of the event surprise surprise.

The BBC is a disgrace and the fact that the British public are forced to pay for such bias garbage is a joke.

I salute those who dont pay for a TV licence.

Yes the security fence has saved hundreads of lives. Suicide bombings, bus bombings etc are down considerably so it's no wonder our savage little brainwashed friends will do anything to discredit it. Oh, am I being too insulting to them? Sorry, I've just come from Ramadan section and that always frustrates. They're are all mad. I was trying to reasure this 16 year old Gay Muslim boy who was looking for some support, and some of the things those backward animals were saying to him. They'll probably get that answer of support removed, because we know how they love to silence the truth......Oh well, never mind.

How laughable, yet slimy to use political correctness as their weapon against the security fence, calling it apartheid and what not. PC?? Them of all people! If you're against the fence then you're for mass slaughter of innocent civilians from all walks of life including Muslims. AND THAT'S NOT SO PC IS IT? That's the bottom line, end of story!!

Absolutely. The security barrier (I refuse to call it a separation barrier, its aim is security not segregation which is misleading) has meant that attacks on Israelis has been significantly reduced. Given the numerous checkpoints, both terrorists and children who have been armed with explosives unknowingly have been filtered out and unable to carry out their planned abhorrent task.

Unfortunately the security barrier and fences can still be bypassed through incomplete sections, but this obviously requires going to greater lengths to circumnavigate security.

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I absolutely agree with Israelite Soldier regarding the BBC. It is a politically correct joke. It gives airing for the sake of "fair viewing" to politicians (terrorists) of political group (terrorist group) Hamas, whilst ignoring the attacks they carry out. Do they deserve a fair viewing? Absolutely not. They are terrorists who, in their own charter, openly call for the destruction of Israel. It's vile.

As for those calling it the "Apartheid wall", complete dolts. Israel is nothing like an apartheid state. If it was, you wouldn't have politicians like Raleb Majadele, or Taleb el-Sana, and Nawaf Massalha, etc. They would have been silenced, but no, they are free to take part in the political sphere and enjoy equal rights like the 1.2 million Muslims of the 1.6 million Arabs that live in Israel. Apartheid? I think not. Don't buy into this nonsense. You have groups like "Queers for Palestine" called QUIT!, the fact is if they lived in Palestine themselves they'd have to move to Israel, it's beyond a joke.

Without interviewing all failed Arab terrorists, it's impossible to say.

Presumably nothing will stop a determined murderer.

But if it has saved the life of one person, it is worth it. Maybe a half-hearted terrorist will have given up.

Yes it has stopped terrorist infiltration from the west bank

Probably not since Israel creates the reaction it wants in the beleaguered Palestinians for public relations purposes and can turn it on and turn of like a cruel water faucet.

Smart, moral people call it the Apartheid Wall.

There are a number of issues with the Apartheid Wall besides the fact that it is a "wall" and a symbol of racist Israeli "Apartheid."

First it is built on Palestinian land.

Second it was built with extorted US taxpayer dollars.

Third is has been deemed illegal by virtually every entity in the world outside of the Talmudic regime.

Apartheid deniers, deny every true detail about the Apartheid Wall as you can see in the pathetic responses you are getting from them.

You mean security fence?

Yes.