Cremisan ruling: 'a joyful sign for Christians in the Holy Land'

Last Mass before bulldozers were due to arrive

On Thursday, April 2, 2015, after a nine years legal battle, the Israeli Supreme Court finally issued its final verdict on the Cremisan Valley threatened since 2006 by the Separation Wall construction project. A decision in favour of the project would have resulted in the expropriation of land belonging to 58 Christian families in Beit Jala, and the separation of two Salesian convents.

The Supreme Court finally accepted the petition against the construction of the Wall and therefore the Israeli army will give up such a project, the Court found "harmful to the local population and the valley monasteries," noting that "the planned route as suggested by the Israeli Ministry of Defence is not the only alternative which could ensure security and cause the least harm possible as requested by Israeli administrative law." (Report of the Society of St.Yves).

On Holy Thursday, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, visited Cremisan for a press conference in the presence of the three area mayors - Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour - and several religious and political figures. He thanked all those who, locally and internationally, over the years committed to the Christian community in the Holy Land, including the parish of Beit Jala, the St Yves Society, the Secretariat of State, the Bishops' Conferences of the United States and Europe, the Consuls of Jerusalem, the Salesian Fathers, the lawyers involved and the three mayors of the region who visited the Holy Father a month ago to plead this cause.

With the huge number of those who are committed to this cause, the voice of families Cremisan could be heard on the international stage. On the Israeli side, this case has also received significant support, including from lawyers and even former soldiers and rabbis.

His Beatitude welcomed "a victory for Israeli justice itself since it had the courage to take such a decision."

He also recalled "the efficacy of prayer" and how the former pastor of Beit Jala persevered for years celebrating an outdoor Mass every Friday in the presence of dozens of parishioners and people of all religions.

The Patriarch concluded by noting that the news is "a joyful sign of the Resurrection" for the Christians of the Holy Land.

Bishop Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton and Chair of the International Affairs Department of Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales said in a statement: "I am delighted that the High Court of Justice in Israel ruled on Maundy Thursday that the extension of the separation wall through the Cremisan valley "violated the rights" of the people of Beit Jala. The proposed wall through the Cremisan valley threatened to separate the nineteenth century Salesian monasteries and a convent school.

"The Court has instructed the Israeli government to plan a new route, although it has set no time frame for the new plans. I am against all walls that separate communities from each other, let alone from their lands and their properties. This judgment rightly puts paid to any attempts to weaken the status of Christians in this southern part of Palestine.

"Separating walls create difficulties in movement, access to worship and to education. I share the joy of HB Fouad Twal, Latin-rite Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, in welcoming this decision."