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US bishop says Palestinian Christians in Cremisan Valley 'have lost hope'


A US bishop visiting the Holy Land for the second year in a row said Palestinians whose land has been divided by the Israeli separation barrier "have lost hope." Judith Sudilovsky writes for the Catholic News Service.

"It was very sad to see the present situation where individuals have their lands confiscated and trees uprooted," said Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, New Mexico. "This is a sign of something much larger. It seems to be a diminishing of the rights of Palestinians to be there and a lack of acknowledgment of their legitimate right to be present whether in the state of Israel or in Palestinian lands."

Bishop Cantu and 12 bishops from Europe, South Africa and North America visited the Cremisan Valley on January 10 as part of the Holy Land Coordination, in which they come to show solidarity with Palestinian Christians. (Ed. They were turned back by the Israeli army after five minutes)

More than 55 Christian families had their land confiscated by Israelis in this agricultural valley adjacent to the village of Beit Jalla to make room for the Israeli separation barrier, despite years of legal attempts to have the route of the barrier moved.

Read on here: www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/us-bishop-says-palestinians-in-cremisan-valley-have-lost-hope.cfm

See earlier report: ICN 11 January 2016 - Holy Land: Israeli army bars bishops from visiting Cremisan Valley www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=29202

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