Israeli supreme court sides with Catholic monastery, Palestinian homeowners over route of security wall

April 07, 2015

Catholic Church officials in Israel have won a key victory in the nation’s supreme court, which ruled against the construction of a security wall through land owned by a Salesian monastery.

The court ruled that the defense ministry must find another route for the security wall in the Cremisan valley. The court said that the wall can be constructed, but cannot split the monastery lands and separate Palestinian families from the vineyards they cultivate.

The court ruling ends a 9-year legal battle between the defense ministry and the Palestinian community.

“We thank God for this,” said the Latin-rite Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal. “This wall was illegal and justice has prevailed.”

The Patriarch said that the Israeli court had responded to arguments put forward by Church leaders and Palestinian landowners, as well as Israeli citizens who recognized the justice of their cause. He also acknowledged the value of diplomatic pressure from the US, due to the intervention of American bishops.

 

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Further information:

• Court blocks Israeli plan to extend separation wall in Cremisan Valley (Catholic Herald)
• Palestinian Christian mayors travel to Vatican, discuss Cremisan Valley wall (CWN, 2/13)