News ID: 11264
Publish Date: 28 January 2014 - 00:00

Palestinian villagers against Israeli separation wall

Navideshahed- Palestinians have warned that the planned construction of an Israeli separation wall would destroy the livelihoods of local residents south of al-Quds.
On Wednesday, Israel’s Supreme Court is to decide on the planned route of the concrete barrier which is also known as the Apartheid Wall.
Residents in the West Bank village of Battir say that the wall would threaten the livelihoods of a 5,000-Palestinian community that depends on an ancient irrigation system.
The Roman-era system channels water from natural springs through sluice gates for orchards and gardens of the village.
“The building of the wall will destroy parts of the water system that has been here for 2,500 years, including the stone channels that lead to the village,”? said Akram Badr, head of the village council.
The wall would also separate residents of the nearby Beit Jala from their olive gardens and a local Christian community.
Beit Jala’s parish priest Father Ibrahim al-Shamali has been holding weekly Masses over the past two years in protest against the plan.
“The wall endangers all the people of Beit Jala, Christians and Muslims alike,”? he said.
“It will affect Christians more because 99 percent of the land there belongs to some 58 Christian families... This could push the community to leave, because after losing their land they’ll have nothing to stay for,”? he added.

On Wednesday, Israel’s Supreme Court is to decide on the planned route of the concrete barrier which is also known as the Apartheid Wall. Residents in the West Bank village of Battir say that the wall would threaten the livelihoods of a 5,000-Palestinian community that depends on an ancient irrigation system. The Roman-era system channels water from natural springs through sluice gates for orchards and gardens of the village. “The building of the wall will destroy parts of the water system that has been here for 2,500 years, including the stone channels that lead to the village,”? said Akram Badr, head of the village council. The wall would also separate residents of the nearby Beit Jala from their olive gardens and a local Christian community. Beit Jala’s parish priest Father Ibrahim al-Shamali has been holding weekly Masses over the past two years in protest against the plan. “The wall endangers all the people of Beit Jala, Christians and Muslims alike,”? he said. “It will affect Christians more because 99 percent of the land there belongs to some 58 Christian families... This could push the community to leave, because after losing their land they’ll have nothing to stay for,”? he added.
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