The phrase is familiar to those of us who follow the news out of the Middle East routinely, habitually, obsessively, year in and decade out — in short, more than is good for any sane person.
Obstacles to Peace can be safely defined as anything the Israelis are doing at the moment.
So when the Israelis put up a barrier to keep guerrillas and suicide bombers out, they're erecting . . . an obstacle to peace. And the United Nations is sure to condemn them for it.
The U.N. now has sicced the International Court of Justice at the Hague onto the Israelis' wall, asking for an advisory opinion. As if the U.N. ever needed advice before condemning Israel. Just look at the record:
http://jewishworldreview.com/0204/greenberg_2004_02_25.php3