Stolen olives

At the moment the world's attention is on the situation in Gaza - and
needless to say I earnestly hope for the safe return of the Israeli prisoner
of war. However the Israelis are nothing if not opportunistic and they have
taken advantage of the distraction to steal some land they have long
coveted.

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For Immediate Release
28 June 2006

Bulldozers start work on Wall to annex Bethlehem's Cremisan Monastery

While the world's attention turns to the dramatic situation in Gaza, the
Israeli Army has begun uprooting ancient olive trees in Bethlehem's Cremisan
area, marking out the path of the wall to be built through one of the
regions most valuable heritage sites. The Cremisan area is of significant
heritage value, home to the only winery in Palestine and two monasteries.
Some of the finest examples of the region's ancient terraced landscape can be
found here. The Wall will carve through these terraces destroying
agricultural landscapes that have survived for centuries.

An urgent appeal has been circulated by Beit Jala district council, calling
for action to stop the bulldozers. The statement reads: "This morning
Tuesday 27th of June 2006, the Israeli bulldozers guarded with armed
personnel started cutting and uprooting olive trees in the Cremisan area in
preparation for the construction of the segregation Wall. Cremisan area has
the only remaining forest in the city, and the most fertile agricultural
land, which is the main source of income to many farmers in the city."

When the Wall is completed, Beit Jala district will have lost access to
two-thirds of its land. The Cremisan area is one of the very few
recreational sites in the city where locals used to go on weekends and
holidays. Open Bethlehem's Chief Executive, Leila Sansour says: "At a time
when the US Congress is considering the plight of Palestinian Christians, we
are witnessing the destruction of this community's land, heritage and
livelihood. The people of Bethlehem are united in their message to the
international community: if you want to help us, stop the construction of
Israel's Wall."

The last announcement of major confiscation of Beit Jala's land happened in
March when world attention was focused on the Jericho Prison siege.

Contacts:
Leila Sansour: +44 7814 937743
Charlotte Carson: +44 7768 35897
Samia Zeit (Beit Jala District Council): +972 2 274 2601 / +972 599 253 830
www.openbethlehem.org

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God bless,
Kendall K. Down

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