News Compass

Sunday, December 21, 2003

The Bad News: The Town where Christ was Born is Now Encircled in Steel by Israel

Read Here full article by Justin Huggler (in Bethlehem) for Independent UK
20 December 2003

EXCERPTS

It should be a time of celebration for the city where Christ was born.

Unlike last year, this Christmas there are no Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem's streets and the tanks have gone.

"But it's worse." says Yaqub Kasis, a member of Bethlehem's dwindling community of Palestinian Christians .

Israel's "security fence" has arrived in Bethlehem. It snakes through the suburbs, close to the old stone houses.

Click Here to View Photos of Separation Wall and Fence, Settler Bypass Roads and Road Blocks in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Click HERE to View Satellite Images of the Fence / Security Barrier / Separation Barrier built by Israel to separate the Palestinian people from their lands

But the term "fence" is misleading. The section built in Bethlehem is made up of a triple layer concrete wall and two metal fences, one equipped with electronic sensors. The space between the two fences is patrolled by Israeli army jeeps.

Israel's Concrete Wall Surrounding Palestinian People

The pilgrims who travel to Bethlehem for Christmas this year will find that the city of Christ's birth is being walled off. Fears are growing that the city may soon be surrounded.

The Completed Wall Around Southern Bethlehem

Mr Kasis said: "Can you imagine Bethlehem without Christians? The Church of the Nativity without Christians?". He looks from his balcony to where the route of the fence is being prepared. " That's why they (Israelis)are doing this," he said. "To make us leave."

The Israeli army wants to demolish Mr Kasis's home in Beit Sahour, a suburb of Bethlehem with a large Christian population, to make way for the fence.

"If they demolish it, I will live on the rubble," says Mr Kasis. "I have nowhere else to take my children." Mr Kasis used to work in Israel, but since the Israeli military closures that have been imposed during the intifada, he has been unemployed. Mr Kasis lives on land that was given free for new housing by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

"They are turning Bethlehem into a ghetto," says Dr Jad Isaac, the head of Arij, a Palestinian group which monitors Israeli construction in the West Bank. (Jewish ghettoes in Nazi Germany ? )

Israel is building hundreds of miles of fence across the West Bank. The Israeli army says that the wall will not encircle the city - one quarter will remain open to the West Bank, it says. But the Palestinian group Arij, claims that the Israelis are planning to close the last quarter with two bypass roads. One road has already been completed near the north-eastern edge of the city and is cut off by its own protective fence.

It is a fate which has already befallen the Palestinian cities of Qalqilya and Tulkarem further north in the West Bank. Qalqilya is surrounded by a concrete wall complete with pillboxes from which Israeli soldiers look down on the city. The only way in and out is through Israeli army checkpoints.

Satellite Image of Israel Walling Palestinian Towns. This is the town of Qalqilyah in the West Bank. The Wall was paid for by American Taxpayers through US Aid to Israel

Known as the "Pillbox"

According Dr Isaac, if Bethlehem is completely enclosed, the population will become increasingly crammed in as it continues to grow. Bethlehem could come to resemble the already fenced Gaza Strip, where the cities cannot expand and the population density is 4,500 people per square kilometre - one of the world's most crowded places.

Israel says the wall will stop suicide bombers crossing from the West Bank into Israel. "If that were true, why don't they build it on the Green Line? " says Dr Isaac.

The Israeli government refuses to build the fence on the Green Line, the internationally recognised border between the West Bank and Israel. Instead, it cuts many miles into the West Bank, so that Jewish settlements can be included on the "Israeli" side.

Merry Christmas to ALL Christians around the world fortunate enough NOT having to live in the same town where Christ was born.

One Final Note:
Read HERE article " The Holy Land Needs Bridges, Not Walls" by Corinne Whitlatch, Executive Director, Churches for Middle East Peace

" Imprisoned Bethlehem : In a "Statement Regarding the Separation Wall," the Bishops and Patriarchs of Jerusalem wrote that the consequences of the separation wall around Bethlehem "will be devastating to the Christian Community; not least the psychological impact on daily life. The community will be isolated following the deprivation of access to land and freedom of movement." They express their "determination to do all in our power to work for peace in this Holy Land - a peace that is concerned with the well-being of every resident of this land, be they Israeli or Palestinian."

Suggested Action:

There is no quick fix to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, there are numerous action and policy changes that can be undertaken immediately that could improve peoples' lives and awaken hope for peacemaking. One of the most concrete and visible actions would be for Israel to tear down the Separation Wall that has been built on West Bank land.

This is unlikely unless the United States government uses its considerable influence to convince Israel and Israel's supporters in the United States that this is necessary and in Israel's best interest as well.

Call on the White House and Congress to tear down the separation wall.

Make these points:

* I am deeply distressed by the building of the separation wall by Israel.

* The wall is resulting in the de facto imprisonment of the Palestinian population and eliminates hope for a peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict.

* Reducing the loan guarantees is only symbolic unless construction of the wall ends.

* I join with the National Council of Churches and call for Israel to tear down the separation wall that is being erected.

* Or, I agree with Pope John Paul that the Wall is an obstacle on the road to peace. The Holy Land does not need walls, but bridges.

This is a hot issue and calls are certain to be tabulated. Tell the receptionist that you want to leave a message about foreign policy; you may be transferred to the Foreign Policy Legislative Aide's phone. Identify yourself by name, and church or denomination if you're comfortable with that.

The White House Comments line is (202) 456-1111.
Call the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 to reach your Representative and two Senators.

You can also leave a message on the website of some Representatives and Senators. Go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.

The National Council of Churches' General Assembly, on November 6, adopted a Resolution on the Conflict in the Middle East, "...based on our faith that 'Now in Christ Jesus, he has broken down the dividing wall that is the hostility between us.'" (Eph.2:14)

Reiterating support for a Palestinian State alongside the State of Israel, and an open, shared Jerusalem, the General Assembly calls for the tearing down of the Separation Wall. The National Council of Churches' resolution, and all documents mentioned, are posted our website (www.cmep.org). Check out our resource center about the wall at http://www.cmep.org/documents/separationwall.htm
- Corrine Whitlatch