CPTnet
1 November 2007
HEBRON ACTION ALERT: CPT Palestine announces "No Way to the Inn--Bethlehem
Behind the Wall" Campaign
If the Christmas story were to happen today, Mary and Joseph would have a
hard time getting to Bethlehem.
Since 2002, Israeli authorities have been building a separation barrier that
snakes through the occupied Palestinian territories, in effect annexing
valuable Palestinian land and water resources. To clear the way,
Palestinians living near the security barrier often face the threat of home
demolitions. According to Israeli human rights monitoring organization
B'tselem, the separation barrier affects nearly half a million Palestinian
residents, and currently the barrier separates almost twelve percent of the
land on the Palestinian side of the 1967 Green Line from the rest of the
occupied Palestinian territories. When completed, the barrier will be 780
km long (for more statistics, visit
<http://www.btselem.org/english/Separation_Barrier/Statistics.asp
<http://www.btselem.org/english/Separation_Barrier/Statistics.asp>)
The separation barrier surrounds Bethlehem, located in Palestine, on three
sides and cuts off the city from Jerusalem only six miles away.
ACTION During the seasons of Advent and Christmas, erect a wall around
nativity sets in your homes and churches to raise awareness of the
separation barrier the Israeli authorities are erecting in the occupied
Palestinian territories. Inform local media and use this action as an
opportunity to spread the word about the separation barrier. After erecting
your wall, take pictures of the nativity, and send them as attachments to
guest.49296@MennoLink.org. The team will compile the pictures for broader
distribution (more details to come.)
CPT Palestine will also be producing related worship materials for
reflection during Advent. For questions and concerns, contact the CPT
Palestine team at guest.49296@MennoLink.org. For photos of the separation
barrier, visit <http://www.cpt.org/gallery/album224
<http://www.cpt.org/gallery/album224> >
BACKGROUND The Israeli human rights group B'tselem writes about the
separation barrier:
"In June 2002, the government of Israel decided to erect a physical barrier
to separate Israel and the West Bank in order to prevent the uncontrolled
entry of Palestinians into Israel. In most areas, the barrier is an
electronic fence with dirt paths, barbed-wire fences, and trenches on both
sides, at an average width of sixty meters. In some areas, a wall six to
eight meters high has been erected in place of the barrier system . . . The
construction of the barrier has brought new restrictions on movement for
Palestinians living near the Barrier's route, in addition to the widespread
restrictions that have been in place since the outbreak of the current
intifada. Thousands of Palestinians have difficulty going to their fields
and marketing their produce in other areas of the West Bank. Farming is a
primary source of income in the Palestinian communities situated along the
Barrier's route, an area that constitutes one of the most fertile areas in
the West Bank. The harm to the farming sector is liable to have drastic
economic effects on the residents--whose economic situation is already very
difficult-- and drive many families into poverty." (To read this article in
full, visit <http://www.btselem.org/english/Separation_Barrier/Index.asp
<http://www.btselem.org/english/Separation_Barrier/Index.asp>)
For a range of information about the separation barrier, visit
For a range of information about the separation barrier, visit
<http://www.nad-plo.org/news-updates/wallmapoct07.pdf
<http://www.stopthewall.org/downloads/pdf/NewWallFactSheet.pdf>
<http://www.arij.org/index.php?option=com_cases&Itemid=27&lang=en
<http://www.arij.org/index.php?option=com_cases&Itemid=27%E2%8C%A9=en>
<http://www.arij.org/index.php?option=com_cases&Itemid=27&lang=en >
(These sites contain articles regarding separation barrier -- also known as
the segregation wall -- in addition to general information about the Israeli
occupation of Palestinian territories.)
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