After years of extensive efforts, families from Beit Sahour managed to start a housing project on land donated by the Greek Orthodox Church. For the past 8 years, the Greek Orthodox housing committee has been working hard to provide housing opportunity for its members, mostly low-income Christian families. Five-story buildings with 10 apartments in each are already completed and inhabited. Work is still ongoing to build ten more buildings. The housing project, sited at the northern part of the town of Beit Sahour is crucial for solving the chronic housing problems in a town suffocated by close military areas and settlements from all directions.
Call for an action:
After years of extensive efforts, families from Beit Sahour managed to start a housing project on land donated by the Greek Orthodox Church. For the past 8 years, the Greek Orthodox housing committee has been working hard to provide housing opportunity for its members, mostly low-income Christian families. Five-story buildings with 10 apartments in each are already completed and inhabited. Work is still ongoing to build ten more buildings. The housing project, sited at the northern part of the town of Beit Sahour is crucial for solving the chronic housing problems in a town suffocated by close military areas and settlements from all directions.
Two days ago, the army raided the place. Handed the residents orders to stop any further work in the project and demanded them to appear in the Israel military headquarters in Gosh Etzion. The officer who handed the order clearly informed people that Israeli security consideration requires for this project to cease and even the already existing buildings are subject to evaluation and could be demolished.
While the families of Beit Sahour lost all of their land in the northern part due to land expropriation and the build up of the huge Har Homa Colony, nowadays the Israeli greed for expansion is going beyond any limit. For the past 8 years Israel never even indicated that there is anything wrong with the housing project plans or the construction work. Suddenly, families are threatened to lose their homes and be thrown into the streets. Already more than forty families are living there, and an additional 100 families will move in when the project is completed.
I wonder how many crimes against innocent people will be committed in the name of security needs?
We urge you to raise you voice against those vicious plans. We know for sure that the reason behind this Israeli move is to provide more land for the recently established Har Homa colony. Until when Palestinian families will continue being the victims of Israeli greed for land and expansionism?
Ghassan Andoni
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