Bishops criticise Israeli plans for security wall in Cremisan Valley
An international delegation of bishops have called on Israel to abandon plans to build a security wall in the Cremisan Valley near Bethlehem, on the land of 58 Christian families, saying the wall would destroy vineyards, groves and orchards and separate them from their land.
The bishops of the Holy Land Co-ordination, who come from Europe, North America and South Africa, made their plea ahead of a case brought on behalf of locals at the Israeli Supreme Court that opened today.
Pax Christi International joined the bishops in issuing a statement asking Israel to "respect the livelihoods of these families and for the people of Beit Jala to be protected from further expropriation of their lands and homes by Israel."
They also expressed their deep concern that the planned wall “will consolidate the Israeli settlement areas and permanently cut off Bethlehem from Jerusalem”.
They said the plan to build the wall would make peace between Israelis and Palestinians more remote.
“This particular plan is a microcosm of the tragic situation in the Holy Land – a situation which incites resentment and mistrust, making the possibility of a much-needed solution less likely.”
They pointed out the planned route of the wall deviates from the Green Line – the world-recognised demarcation line separating Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories. They added that more than 75 per cent of the planned route is illegal according to an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and breaches the Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Mandated by the Holy See, and organised since 1998 by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the Holy Land Co-ordination meets every January in the Holy Land.
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