There is a lovely little valley here with a school run by Salesian nuns and vineyards tended by Italian monks. After a nine-year legal battle, which drew the attention of the pope, Israel’s top court on Thursday rejected a government plan to route the West Bank right through them.
The separation barrier is mostly complete, but small gaps remain. Israel’s Defense Ministry wanted to complete a section of the wall through the Cremisan Valley of Bethlehem, not far from where the Bible says Jesus was born.
The new section of wall would have left a Roman Catholic monastery on the Jerusalem side and its sister Salesian convent and school on the West Bank side. Residents, clergy and congregants would have had to pass through gates manned by Israeli soldiers. The proposed route for the wall’s extension spawned frequent protests, often led by priests.
[]
On Thursday, clergy, landowners and local Palestinian mayors celebrated the Israeli Supreme Court ruling as just and long overdue.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, the leader of the Catholic Church here, said the decision was especially meaningful for Christians on the eve of Easter, representing “hope, resurrection, rebirth” for the Cremisan Valley.
Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun, a Christian, said, “God is with us this week.” She said the residents of Bethlehem need the open lands and views of the Cremisan Valley for their spiritual and mental renewal. “They need to see a place of nature, with religious sites, without a wall,” she said.
Samia Khalilieh, whose family owns land in valley, said it was not easy fighting the wall. “It was in Israeli courts, in Hebrew, a language we don’t understand, and hearings went on for years,” she said. “Some lost hope. But we kept going.”
Israeli military officials these days say the West Bank is mostly calm, which is why there are relatively few attacks on Israelis in Israel or in the territory. But they also say that the separation barrier deserves partial credit for that, by keeping assailants out.
Although the court ruled out the barrier extension, the Israeli military can still employ cameras, sensors and patrols.
SuperFan Badge
SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.
|
Culture Connoisseur Badge
Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.
|
Fact Checker Badge
Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to .
|
Washingtologist Badge
Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.
|
Post Writer Badge
This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.
Post Forum Badge
Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
|
Weather Watcher Badge
Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.
|
World Watcher Badge
World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.
|
Post Contributor Badge
This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.
|
Post Recommended
Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.
You must be logged in to report a comment.
You must be logged in to recommend a comment.
Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in , as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.
All comments are posted in the tab.
To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.