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Isn't it ironic? Both Israel and America are societies engaged in struggles over their futures due to evil-doers crossing borders. Both are acting in self-defense to stop invaders. Both countries are getting heat from various sources for trying to protect themselves. So both Israel and America are pursuing a security fence and Israel's will be completed this year. And the world, with many Americans chiming in, says "Mr. Prime Minister, tear down that wall."

Opponents of Israel's fence argue that the fence poses undue hardship to Palestinian Arabs by limiting their employment opportunities. As a result, Israel has altered its fence to be more accommodating to the Palestinians. Opponents of a fence along America's southern border insist it will also inflict undue hardship on Mexicans seeking employment.

Israel's fence roughly follows along the 1967 cease-fire line and has cut suicide bomber entry by 95%. As a result, many nations are now consulting Israel about a fence that could be constructed using an Israeli design. But America doesn't think the Israeli fence is a good idea either. It's a good idea for America, just not Israel, even though Israel is blocking terrorists and many crossing our border with Mexico are terrorists, too.

Pro-U.S. fence advocates are getting louder and angrier because illegal immigrants have been in our face for months. Congress has passed bills, including H.R. 4083 on October 19, 2005, directing Homeland Security to construct a fence along our southern border called the "Border Security Improvement Act." Many are pushing for a 2,000 mile fence which was once a radical idea. Some are proposing it be 12 to 15 feet high, 50 yards wide, with coiled barbed wire stacked eight feet on each perimeter. The "Minutemen" are saying they will build one themselves if Congress doesn't pass such a law and soon. The various bills proposed generally get bogged down by anti-fence leaders on both sides of the aisle, environmentalists, although there are miles of reinforced fencing along our border with Mexico now.

The success of Israel's fence has spawned many imitators, though they all insist Israel tear down her wall. The most outspoken is the European Union even though barriers are going up all throughout Europe. The U.N., which has passed more than 400 resolutions against Israel since 1964, has thus far not contested any of the E.U.-sponsored fences.

Security fences abound in India, Morocco, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Botswana, Uzbekistan and literally dozens more. But none are in favor of Israel having a security fence. Why the double standard? No nation with a fence is in a struggle for existence as is Israel. None seemingly can conceive of the monumental numbers of killed and maimed Israelis because they didn't have a fence until recently.

Critics call Israel's fence the "apartheid wall." Those on the Left may call America's pending security fence an "apartheid wall" as well, but I wonder what they will say when just one terrorist crosses our southern border with a dirty bomb or other WMD? Even the World and National Council of Churches are on the "rid Israel's fence" bandwagon. Once again, Israel sees her only friends are conservatives and particularly conservative Christians.

This scenario is so ludicrous that if it weren't outlined in the Bible, it would not be believable. The ancient Hebrew prophets wrote extensively that tiny Israel would upset the entire world no matter what she did, even when she did things to make the world a safer place. And so the drama is playing out as foretold.

(Jan is founder/director of Olive Tree Ministries and Contributing Editor to Omega Letter. To learn more, sign up for her e-alerts and free, print newsletter, visit her Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org.)

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