Holy Land: US diplomat visits convent at center of Cremisan Valley dispute

January 06, 2015

Michael Ratney, the US consul general in Jerusalem, visited the Salesian convent in the Cremisan Valley on January 2 “to understand the land’s significance,” according to a Twitter post from the consulate.

An Israeli court has upheld the government’s decision to confiscate the majority of the convent’s land, as well as the property of 58 families, in order to extend its Israeli West Bank barrier.

A Salesian sister told the diplomat that the barrier’s extension would make it impossible for local families to send their children to the convent school

The consul general expressed surprise at the Israeli government’s “suggestion to put the [nearby] Salesian monks in charge of security while operating the suggested gate in the wall, which contradicts the mission of the monastery and jeopardizes its relation with the community,” stated the Society of St. Yves, which is representing the Salesians in court.

“The consul general concluded his visit by affirming that he will make all efforts to prevent the monastery and convent from becoming a cage-like prison for the both religious orders and the local community they serve,” the statement added.

 

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Further information:

• The Society of St. Yves Accompanies U.S Consul General on a Field Visit to Cremisan (Society of St. Yves)
• Consul General Ratney met … (USCG Jerusalem Twitter)
• Holy Land bishops: save Cremisan Valley from Israeli security wall (CWN, 12/10)