Locals in Cremisan hopeful after Israeli Supreme Court order
(Vatican Radio) Israel's Supreme Court has issued a preliminary order asking the
state to develop its argument over its plan to build the Separation Wall through the
Cremisan Valley near Bethlehem. If the wall is built according to current plans the
planned route through the valley would cut off 58 mainly Christian families from
their lands and separate a Salesian convent from their neighbouring monastery. The
Supreme Court order has also asked the state to explain why it has not considered
an alternative, less disruptive route for the people in the area, and why it should
not cancel all of the seizure orders issued for the Cremisan.
Last April,
the Israeli Special Appeals Committee had ruled in favour of the state and its current
plan for the wall. But, during the Supreme Court hearing 29 January, the Israeli Council
of Peace and Security offered the expert opinion that an alternate route would cause
much less harm to the community and better serve Israel’s security needs.
Anica
Heinlein, advocacy officer for the Society of St. Yves, a Catholic Centre for Human
Rights representing the Salesians in this case, spoke to Vatican Radio from Bethlehem.
She says the Supreme Court order, which leaves the burden of proof on the state, has
given the people hope.
“This was a huge surprise that apparently our arguments
went through and the court was listening to our arguments, and even found them (to
be) very good arguments, and is now asking for clarification from the state,” she
said. “So, people in Cremisan are very, very happy and, at the moment, we really have
a lot of hope that we can win this case.”
The Supreme Court of Israel issued
the order on Monday; the state has until 10 April to reply.
“Until the beginning
of April, there is legally nothing to be done. We work now on more diplomatic pressure
to make people and the international community aware of what is going on here,” said
Heinlein.
The construction of the wall remains suspended until the state submits
its responses and a decision is reached. The Supreme Court has set the next hearing
date for 30 July.
In the meantime, Heinlein appealed for solidarity of prayer:
“Of course, we need prayers because we want this miracle to happen.”