In accordance with the principles of international law and human rights, successive United Nations General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, along with the pressure of international opinion, have condemned and demanded an immediate cessation of the settlement policies of the Israeli government in the occupied territories. Despite this, the current government of Israel, headed by Ariel Sharon, is still engaged in and committed to the implementation of settling Jews in colonies throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This policy is aimed at destroying the infrastructure of the Palestinian people and their existence in their homeland.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
In accordance with the principles of international law and human rights, successive United Nations General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, along with the pressure of international opinion, have condemned and demanded an immediate cessation of the settlement policies of the Israeli government in the occupied territories. Despite this, the current government of Israel, headed by Ariel Sharon, is still engaged in and committed to the implementation of settling Jews in colonies throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This policy is aimed at destroying the infrastructure of the Palestinian people and their existence in their homeland.
The Israeli authorities have systematically destroyed much of the security and civil administration of the Palestinian Authority, demolished and vandalized thousands of homes and public buildings, confiscated and destroyed arable land and crops and repeatedly invaded Palestinian controlled areas, arresting thousands of young men and boys. All of these actions have been taken under the erroneous pretext of ‘security’ and this operation is continuing; the Israeli government is confiscating yet more land, increasing the border in their favor between Jerusalem and the West Bank, and continuing to construct roads to connect Jerusalem to the illegal settlements, dissecting the entire West Bank and transforming the land in to cantons which are encircled by razor wire.
In the Bethlehem district alone, Israel has expropriated more than 13,000 dunams of land legally owned by citizens of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. A road is being built from Jerusalem which is separating us from our land and dividing our communities. This road will be for the use of Jewish settlers and the Israeli army; a Palestinian is in danger of being shot and killed, just by being in close proximity to the area. Deep trenches have been dug, flanked by thousands of metres of razor wire. Bulldozers and diggers are working constantly, under the protection of the Israeli military, depriving Palestinians of their inalienable right to access Jerusalem and their land, as well as denying municipalities the right to expand their towns to meet the needs of the growing population.
We have not been idle in opposing this. The land owners, the citizens and the municipalities of the district have made strenuous efforts to try and halt the progress of the road and to protect the rights of the people. We have joined forces and engaged a Palestinian lawyer to fight this through the legal system in Israel, but this system is intrinsically predisposed to the rights of Israelis, and not that of Palestinians. We have lodged appeals, yet they are always over ruled. We have tried to use law, a fundamental cornerstone of democracy, to safeguard our position but we are fighting against a system which does not recognize our rights and will not act in a fair and just manner.
The municipalities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are now appealing to you to exert immediate pressure on the Israeli government and demand an immediate halt to the continuing destruction of Palestine and its people. The aggressive and belligerent actions of Israel are clearly an attempt to eradicate Palestinians through the practice of ethnic cleansing and the world needs to take action to avert one of the biggest crimes against humanity being committed. Inaction over this fundamental abuse of our basic rights stains the international community. Inaction is equal to complicity in the rape of Palestine. We demand that the international community takes the initiative now and acts with sincerity and courage to protect the stability of the region, for the sake of all the people who live in these lands.
Fuad Kokaly
Mayor of Beit Sahour
