Urgent Appeal from Bethlehem District
Date: 11/29/2002 7:49:25 PM Pacific Standard Time
At the time when we are preparing to receive the Holy Feast of Ramadan
and the Glorious Christmas Season with all the noble meanings and values
carried by these two holy occasions that inspire tranquility and peace
in the souls, and as we are trying to replace the smile on our children’s
lips and heal the wounds caused by the grave human and physical losses
after five Israeli previous incursions to Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli
troops surprised us at dawn of Friday 22/11/2002 with a new incursion to
Bethlehem disregarding the feelings of believers ,Moslems and Christians
alike and nullifying the Bethlehem First understanding concluded last August
with our Palestinian National Authority.
The Israeli tanks and armored vehicles invaded the cities, the villages and the refugee camps of Bethlehem devastating, killing innocents and launching a wide detention campaign amongst their people. The Israeli troops have demolished houses, destructed organizations and infrastracture, diffused fear and imposed collective punishments, in particular curfew the matter which led to tragic deterioration in the living conditions of our people and a total paralyzation to all aspects of life in Bethlehem governorate to include factories, commercial and tourist shops, hospitals, schools, universities, churches and mosques.
Added to that comes the declaration of Bethlehem as a closed military
zone until the 30th of December 2002, and what this declaration implies
of risks represented in the Israeli government’s intention to continue
and escalate its aggression on Bethlehem. This will certainly deprive our
people from performing their religious and social duties during this festive
season and will prevent pilgrims and tourists from reaching the town of
the Nativity to celebrate Christmas, which we consider an unprecedented
measure in the history of our Holy town.
As we strongly condemn this flagrant aggression on Bethlehem which
has no justification except to achieve Israeli internal interests according
to a programmed plan on the eve of the Israeli elections, and as we denounce
these brutal practices that contradict with simple human rights and all
international conventions, we appeal to the U.S government, to the European
Union, the United Nations Organization, to the religious bodies and to
both the Islamic and the Arab worlds to assume their historical responsibilities
towards our Palestinian just cause. We call upon them to quickly and effectively
intervene with the Israeli government for the sake of immediate withdrawal
of its forces from our cities, villages and refugee camps and to stop this
oppression and this savage attack perpetrated in front of the whole world
against a people whos only guilt is his yearning to live in freedom and
dignity on his own land under a just and comprehensive peace according
to the security council resolutions and the international legitimacy.
The Municipality of Bethlehem – The Municipality of Beit Jala – The Municipality of Beit Sahour – The Municipality of Doha – The Municipality of Al Khader
Suzan Sahori
International Public Relations Officer
Beit Sahour Municipality
Beit Sahour
Palestine
Tel:+972 2 277 3830
Fax: +972 2 277 3520
www.beitsahourmunicipality.com <http://www.beitsahourmunicipality.com/>