APPEAL FROM THE MAYOR OF BETHLEHEM
August 21st 2003
As the Israeli government insists on the execution of its expansionist
project at Rachel’s Tomb area in Bethlehem, I find myself compelled to convey to
you my grave concern over this serious threat that overshadows the town of the
Nativity and its future. Following the Israeli military order No. 03/14/T of 9th
February 2003 to seize properties of many Bethlehemites near the Rachel’s Tomb
area, the Israeli forces distributed two days ago a modified but a more
detrimental order specifying 44 parcels of lands to be taken in possession under
the pretext of military purposes.
A map was attached to the order showing a shift to the route of the concrete
wall the Israeli government previously intended to construct in the middle of
the main road at the entrance of Bethlehem. The new route however, appeared to
be more catastrophic as it encircles more Palestinian land to the west and south
of the road and traps around 20 families inside a ghetto. The threat is
concealed in isolating the whole northern part of Bethlehem that is inhabited by
4000 people and that represents 15% of Bethlehem’s master plan, including it
within separation walls and barbed wire thus tightening the ring around it and
stripping it off from Bethlehem.
Additional thousands of acres of Bethlehem’s valuable agricultural land north to
the wall will accordingly not be accessible to their owners to benefit from or
even to reach. Another disastrous effect is that this wall will close the single
bottleneck entrance of Bethlehem used also by visitors and pilgrims. As tourism
constitutes 65% of our citizens’ revenue, the construction of this wall will, by
all criterions, choke our town and deliver a fatal blow to its economy. I should
say this is a piracy act to deprive our people from their properties and
business by swallowing the biggest possible area of Palestinian land. Besides
being against the international legitimacy and the security council resolutions,
this criminal Israeli plan violates all agreements concluded with our
Palestinian National Authority in particular the Oslo Accord that guaranteed
free movement of Palestinians on the main road, not to mention its violation to
simple human rights.
We have supported the peace initiative -the road map- with hopes that it will
bring justice, freedom, peace and political stability to our region.
Regretfully, the recent Israeli upsurge in land grabs obstructs the viability of
any progress in this direction.
By bringing this information to your attention, I appeal to you in the
strongest possible terms to do whatever you can to prevent the execution of this
oppressive plan in Bethlehem before it becomes too late. Our little town,
the capital of Christmas needs urgently your help and that of all people of good
will and peace loving people in the world to keep it as it always been a place
of dignity, a pilgrimage destination and an opened city for peace.
Hanna J. Nasser
Mayor of Bethlehem
Links :
stopthewall.org : Campaign and Maps