This song was inspired by Israel’s trek into Gaza December of 2008, but is more about the Israel/Palestine problem in general. The Barrier is a reference to the walls and fences erected in the West Bank plus the barricades and checkpoints throughout Gaza and other Palestinian lands. It’s also a reference to the three main points of contention separating the Israelis and Palestinians from peace:

1. Right of return
2. The honoring of pre-war borders
3. Illegal settlements

While other issues exist (Jerusalem, Israeli security concerns, the control over border crossings, the Palestinian economy, and mutual recognition), I think that the three mentioned above are the core issues that make peace impossible. “Peace requires compromise”, a clip from Madeleine Albright in a joint speech she made with Jimmie Carter at the Carter Center, sums it up.

You can listen to Barrier by clicking on the music player to the right. You can also search for it on iTunes. For lyrics and other information, try here.

Also — and if you haven’t already — take a moment to join the Grenga Ma Facebook fan page. Lastly, please rate Barrier below: