Holy Land: US churches protest over latest Israeli land grab
On 31 August, Israel declared nearly 1,000 acres of Palestinian land south-west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank as Israeli State Land. This land seizure allows for the establishment of a new settlement around Gva’ot.
This land is being expropriated from Palestinians living in Surif, Jaba’a and Wadi Fukin. This land is considered a community inheritance that provides land for natural population growth, agriculture and natural areas. The Mayor of Surif stated that the land was currently planted with olive and forest trees.
Churches for Middle East Peace, who represent churches from all the mainstream denominations in the United States said in a statement: "Unilateral action, especially illegal unilateral action, cannot lead to the goal of a negotiated agreement for two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.
"The US now must move beyond its usual soft words in public and exercise leadership on an issue that deeply affects the possibility of negotiated agreement to resolve this conflict."
For more information and to sign a petition organised by CMEP see: http://action.cmep.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18138