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Palestinian National Authority (printed on PNA
letterhead)
Bethlehem Municipality
Ref: A 55/107/159
Date: February 17th 2005
Ms. Corinne Whitlatch
Executive Director
Churches for Middle East Peace
110 Maryland Ave #311
Washington, DC
Dear Ms. Whitlatch,
Referring to my previous correspondence, regarding the
Israeli expansionist project at Rachel’s Tomb Area in Bethlehem, I
would like to bring to your information that the Israeli High Court
rejected on February 3, 2005 the petition filed by Bethlehem
Municipality and others against this project. This means green light
to the Israeli military to finalize the works they have started to
seize Palestinian land, construct a road and a wall to wrap the Tomb
with its surroundings in order to annex them and to include them under
permanent Israeli sovereignty.
Regretfully the Court has surrendered to pressures from
different Israeli religious and political extremist groups. The
decision is oppressive. It contradicts with all conventions and
concluded agreements in particular TABA agreement that guaranteed free
movement of Palestinians on the main road from Jerusalem to the Tomb.
I would like to convey my grave concern over the
catastrophic effects of this decision on Bethlehem and its future.
Consequently, Bethlehem will be suffocated, its historic and main
entrance closed, its northern lands isolated behind the wall and a
dear and vital part of will be stripped from its natural environment.
But above all the decision is liable to seriously affect incoming
tourism and pilgrimage to our Holy Town which constitutes the main
source of our economy.
I believe such practices materialize the policy of
occupation and the policy of might rather than dedicating justice and
respect of others rights. They certainly do not help in building
bridges of trust especially during this new era our region is
witnessing to revive the stalemate peace process.
Drawing the painful dividing lines in the Town of
Nativity, one of the most historic, revered and holiest places on
earth is certainly not accepted nor justified under any pretext and
should be confronted by people of good will and all peace loving
people in the world.
Sincerely yours,
Hanna J. Nasser
Mayor of Bethlehem
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