wfn.org | Israelis Seal Off Christian Town in West Bank

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For More Information: Robert Younes, M.D.,
Holyland Christian Ecumenical Foundation
(301) 983 3022, 
Toll Free 866-871-HCEF 
Email: ryounes@hcef.org

Fr. Raed Awad Abusahlia
P.O.Box 14152  Jerusalem  91141
Tel.  (972 2) 628.2323 / 627.2280
Fax  (972 2) 627.1652
Personal E-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
Latin Patriarchate E-mail: Latinpat@actcom.co.il
Latin Patriarchate's Homepage: http://www.Lpj.org
"Nonviolence Homepage": http://go.to/nonviolence

JERUSALEM,  March 7, 2001---The Christian town of Birzeit, home of Birzeit 
University, woke up this morning to find itself cut off from the rest of the 
West Bank.  

At 1 A.M. local time, heavily armed Israeli military occupation forces raided 
Surda, the town that serves as the main entrance to the city of Birzeit.  

The Israelis dug a deep trench in the main road linking Ramallah with 50 
villages and towns including the city of Birzeit.  The Israelis also sealed 
off the entrance via Jifna and the Jalazoun refugee camp has been completely 
sealed.  

In addition, the Israelis cut all telephone lines to the town thereby 
preventing any communication with the rest of the West Bank and the outside 
world.  

The occupation forces also cut the water lines to the city and surrounding 
villages thus creating a public health crisis for the 70,000 inhabitants of 
the isolated region.   The complete closure denies access to basic 
necessities such as water, food supplies and health care services.  

According to eyewitness reports of resident in the area, the damage is 
extensive and will require substantial time and resources to repair.  
Everyone in the town is prepared for a long siege.  

The Israelis allowed just one road to remain open to Ramallah via Surda and 
remains the only means of communication to the rest of the surrounding 
villages.  

The Christian Birzeitis hurriedly shopped for food and heating gas, anxious 
about what will happen next and fearing that the Israeli occupation forces 
will cut off the town's electricity.  

Fr. Iyad Twal, the town's Catholic priest and Latin Church Pastor said that 
cellular phones are the only means of communication with the outside world.  

"This is the first day Sharon will take power, God help the souls of people 
in the days to come," Fr. Iyad, said as he pleaded for Americans to raise 
their voices in protest.  

"Please keep our brothers and sisters in your prayers and raise your voices 
to put an end to this brutal occupation, and let the people live!" 

The town of Birzeit is well known as the host to the leading Palestinian 
institution of higher learning, Birzeit University.   As the siege of the 
town progresses 6,000 students, faculty and staff are prevented from reaching 
the University Campus.   In addition, communication facilities have been cut 
off and thus the University has no means of maintaining contact with the 
outside world.

Digging trenches to cut off towns appears to be the newest tactic to suppress 
the Palestinian uprising.   A trench was dug completely around the ancient 
town of Jericho thereby isolating the town from the rest of the West Bank.  
Jericho, too, had only one entrance and a military checkpoint prevented 
Jericho citizens from leaving or entering.  

Such tactics are a clear violation of the Fourth Geneva convention and the 
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, primarily published as 
a result of Nazi persecution of the Jews in Germany

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