The paragraph below is from a portion of a newsletter from Chruches for Middle East Peace formed in 1984, and is a coalition of 24
national churches denominations and organizations including Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant
traditions. It works to encourage U.S. government policies that actively
promote a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, ensuring security, human
rights and religious freedom for all people of the region. More Information about this group is
available at www.cmep.org.
Legal Blow to
Cremisan Valley
The Israeli
Special Appeals Committee for land seizure under emergency law released its verdict on Wednesday
April 24, 2013 regarding the case of the Cremisan Valley against the separation
wall. The Society of St. Yves, a Catholic human rights group, had represented
the monastery in the Israeli courts in this case that has gone on for seven
years. Israel is now expected to press ahead with
construction of the vast West Bank barrier around a convent near the Christian
town of Beit Jala.
The barrier will
cut the Cremisan convent off of
75 percent of their land as well as a monastery with which they have close
relations. Additionally, over 50 Palestinian Christian families of Beit Jala will
no longer have access to their agricultural land. Xavier Abu Eid, a diplomat in
the Palestine Liberation Organization explains: "The occupation hurts
Christians and Muslims both, but affects the Christian
community more because it's a smaller percentage of the population […] This is
a matter of their survival, as this is one of the last pieces of land the
community owns.”
I took this photo from across the valley to show the beautiful land that will be divided by the wall.
Later in the day we attended the outdoor mass at Cremisan Monastery.
The faithful came to pray and worship. They were reminded that like Jesus praying under the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, suffering came but the resurrection followed!
They were encouraged to continue praying even here under the olive trees knowing God provides the resurrection.
After the mass an explanation of the legal process was given. A letter is being sent to Pope Frances asking for his help in securing a just peace as he meets soon with the government leaders of Israel.
What a privilege it is for us, through EAPPI, to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Palestine.
I took this photo from across the valley to show the beautiful land that will be divided by the wall. 
Later in the day we attended the outdoor mass at Cremisan Monastery. The faithful came to pray and worship. They were reminded that like Jesus praying under the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, suffering came but the resurrection followed!
They were encouraged to continue praying even here under the olive trees knowing God provides the resurrection.
After the mass an explanation of the legal process was given. A letter is being sent to Pope Frances asking for his help in securing a just peace as he meets soon with the government leaders of Israel.
What a privilege it is for us, through EAPPI, to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Palestine.
