Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2011 11 15
People of Bethlehem
In Bethlehem, we are proud of our rich heritage of religious diversity. Christian and Muslim - together, we are Palestinians. It is our shared Palestinian culture and identity that has ensured the survival of Christianity in the Middle East to this day.
2011 11 15
This presentation has been made in response to the recent accusations by the Israel lobby of anti-Christian discrimination and abuse in Palestinian society. At Open Bethlehem, we feel we must inform the international community of the real threat to the Christian population in Palestine the military occupation of our land, and the crippling poverty that his has caused. This presentation explains how Israeli policy has left Bethlehem in a state of captivity and economic strangulation, from which those with the means to do so, would understandably flee. As a civil society organisation committed to the survival of Bethlehems historical diversity, we represent the interests of all Bethlehems inhabitants Christians and Muslims alike.
2011 11 15
Bethlehem in numbers
District Population: 170,000 Urban Population: 75,000 (inc.14,000 in refugee camps) Refugee camps: 3 Churches: 22 Mosques: 11
2011 11 15
There are few options for residents once they lost their jobs in tourism. Seeing few prospects locally, approximately one-tenth of Bethlehems Christian population has left Bethlehem for other countries since September 2000 This economic emigration will have a long term impact on the multicultural character that has defined the city of Bethlehem for centuries. (UN Report December 2004)
2011 11 15
2011 11 15
2011 11 15
During Christmas 2003, 2,785 permits were granted to Bethlehem Christians, a number unable to satisfy all Christians wanting to travel to Jerusalem. Applicants had no control over the dates on which they were allowed to enter an Orthodox Christian could receive a permit to enter on 24 December rather than on 7 January, the Orthodox Christmas Day. UN Report 2004
The permit system for the Closed Zone is administered in an arbitrary and humiliating manner. Permits are frequently withheld, even for landowners and residents of the Closed Zone, or granted for short periods only. The failure to grant permits to farmers to cultivate their lands will result in neglect and ultimate decay of fertile agricultural land. The permit system has also drastically interfered with education, health care and family life. This system, which subjects Palestinian freedom of movement to the whim of the Occupying Power, creates anger, anxiety and humiliation among the population. (UNHCHR)
2011 11 15
2011 11 15
In many parts of urban Bethlehem, especially in the north, the wall dips so far into residential areas that it leaves no room for growth, and towers over the daily lives of the local population.
2011 11 15
On 25 October 2002, the families woke up to find the Israeli army slapping demolition orders on to each building. They were told the houses lay in the path of a planned road. The families took their case to the Israeli courts and the demolition was stopped. But on 25 October 2003, the soldiers came again with demolition orders, and again in 2004. Azar says: Last year (2005) they didnt come, but night after night, convoys of soldiers cruise around here. We are afraid to go out after dark. They have come and taken our building materials several times. We are afraid to confront them. We would end up in jail.
On the hillside opposite the project, where an ancient olive grove once stood, there is a new Israeli military post. The families dont know what will happen next. The new road is snaking towards their homes. They dont know how close the wall will come or if they will have to go to court again. It looks like we will be swallowed up, says Najia, Azars wife, It is so stressful. All we can do is keep trying to live normally and hope for the best.
2011 11 15
Part of the wall in northern Bethlehem. Acres of olive groves lie outside the Wall.
2011 11 15
Settlements
Bethlehemites can see cranes across the skyline busily building new homes for Jews coming from Israel and around the world, while Bethlehems population is forced to leave. The wall weaves around the major settlement blocs. Har Homa (pictured) is developing a tourist village, to cater for tourism to Bethlehem. Har Homa settlement was built rapidly between 1997 and 2000, eradicating a protected forest on the hill known as Jebel Abu Ghneim.
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Chronology of a settlement
There are 27 settlements in the Bethlehem district surrounding the town . There has been a concentrated effort to get settlers moved into this area. There are now approx. 73,000 settlers living on Bethlehems land. This land has either been taken by force or acquired by coercion. This is a view of Gilo settlement in the north.
2011 11 15
Many families who live close to settlements have found themselves stranded between the wall and Jerusalem, without access to education and medical services. In many cases, without Jerusalem residency rights, they will face eviction from their homes. Many houses have already received demolition orders.
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By-pass roads
Bethlehem is not just surrounded by settlements and walls. There is also a network of Israeli-only roads which cut through Bethlehems land. Israel enforces access and building restrictions on a buffer-zone area in the vicinity of these roads.
2011 11 15
Trips of a few kilometers, where they are possible, take hours, following lengthy detours to avoid the areas surrounding Israeli settlements and settlers roads (known as "bypass roads"), which connect the settlements to each other and to Israel and which are prohibited to Palestinians. With the spread of settlements and bypass roads throughout the Occupied Territories, the prohibited areas have multiplied. Amnesty International
2011 11 15
Vital Bethlehem landmarks will lie outside the wall. The Cremisan convent and vineyard has been a central part of Bethlehems history, culture and economy. The surrounding forest Bethlehems only surviving recreational forest - will soon lie beyond the wall.
2011 11 15
Bethlehems terraces one of the best examples of this type of landscaping, and which has been preserved by the Bethlehem Heritage Centre, will have the Wall running through them.
2011 11 15
Ten-year-old Ashjan Huzaibi lives in the village of Al Khas. In October she hadnt seen her grandmother who lives in the neighbouring village, Al Nouman, for 4 months, because Israel has built a road and fence slicing through the land between the villages. Israel has declared that Al Nouman is a suburb of Jerusalem, meaning that the villagers cannot enter. The road was built to service the rapidly expanding settlement of Har Homa, one of the settlements in the Jerusalem Envelope.
Families Separated
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The Wall at Aida Camp The wall cuts deep into residential areas, even surrounding the heavily populated refugee camps.
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Refugee Camps are home to Palestinians who fled what is now Israel and West Jerusalem in 1948 and 1967. Their plight remains unresolved. The building of the wall close to Aida camp prohibits any possibility of expansion and makes life even more difficult for those living in this already overcrowded space.
2011 11 15
Rubbish gathers by the wall in Aida Camp. Refuse collection has been severely hampered by closures at roadblocks, checkpoints and the Wall.
2011 11 15
Rachels Tomb, a small, attractive shrine to Abrahams wife and a significant Bethlehem landmark, has become a military outpost. The shrine which is sacred to the three faiths is now forbidden to Bethlehems Christians and Muslims.
2011 11 15
Homes and businesses around the tomb have been confiscated or bought illegally. The Israeli government officially approved the annexation of Rachels Tomb in 2002.
2011 11 15
Most families have left the area around the tomb. Constant intimidation by the army and isolation from the rest of Bethlehem forced them to leave. But this Catholic family (girls pictured) cannot afford to leave. Their home and business is in the Rachels Tomb area and they have no income to support a move.
2011 11 15
Route of the Wall along northern Bethlehem which separates Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The map also shows the section of the wall which forms a corridor along the main road. The corridor extends southwards further into he city to annex Rachels Tomb.
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A section of the corridor leading to Rachels Tomb this new road is used by settlers and Israelis to access the tomb.
2011 11 15
The road to Jerusalem before closure. Since the wall was built here, 72 out of 80 local businesses have closed. (UN Report 2004)
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This Greek Orthodox kindergarten was forced to close because of its proximity to the wall close to Rachels Tomb the area was made into a military zone with a constant army patrol
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One of the most dangerous new developments that threaten the city: A new settlement around Rachels Tomb
May 2006
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The building site for a new settlement in the heart of Bethlehem at Rachels Tomb. (May 2006) It is feared that Bethlehem will become another Hebron, where extremist religious settlers have created a settlement in the middle of the city, terrorising local communities and driving them out of their homes.
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Netting catches rubbish thrown down by settlers who live in pre-fab buildings on top of Palestinian homes.
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Streets blocked off to Palestinians where settlers have squatted buildings, protected by army.
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A view of the walls around Rachels Tomb and the site of the planned settlement. This is Bethlehem today.
2011 11 15
Open Bethlehem
Open Bethlehem is committed to the survival of Bethlehem as an open and diverse society where Muslims and Christians have lived as a community for centuries. The creation of a new settlement in the middle of Bethlehem by extremist Jewish settlers is an alarming development which can only lead to further generations of conflict and oppression. Open Bethlehem works in co-operation with the local Bethlehem government and wider civil society to challenge this dismal future and to keep the city alive. We are reaching out to the international community, Christian and non-Christian to intervene in this crisis by supporting us and the people of Bethlehem in our mission to keep the city open. Join us in this campaign. www.openbethlehem.org
2011 11 15