Current Actions

  • Help Stop Israeli Land Grab in the Cremisan Valley


    You need to urge Rep. Boustany, your elected representative in the House, to call on the Israeli government to suspend its plan to build another barrier that would divide and harm Christian Palestinians in the communities of Beit Jala and Bethlehem. Even as Secretary of State Kerry works to renew peace talks that will lead to an end of the conflict and end of claims that will render a separation barrier between Israelis and Palestinians unnecessary, this immediate concern needs your attention and action.

    Last month an Israeli court decided under an emergency law to seize land in the Cremisan Valley near Bethlehem to build a section of the separation barrier that will separate a Salesian Catholic monastery from a Salesian Catholic convent.

    The proposed route of the barrier will connect two Israeli hilltop settlements built after 1967, Gilo and Har Gilo, now separated by the small Cremisan valley where Palestinians graze their sheep and have olive orchards, Salesian monks make wine, and Salesian sisters run a school for local children. All of this work and ministry will be threatened or diminished if the barrier is built.

    Building this section of the separation barrier now, more than a decade after it was first proposed, has little to do with its ostensible purpose of providing security for Israelis.  Many sections of the separation barrier have not been built; anyone wishing to enter Israel from the West Bank can find many places where there is no barrier.  There is no security “emergency” in the quiet Cremisan Valley. There is no legitimate reason to build this barrier now that would destroy much of the Christian social and economic viability in this valley. Actions to establish this barrier are themselves barriers to peace, create more resentment against Israel, and undermine U.S. interests in ending this conflict.

    Please let Representative Boustany know of  your concern about Israeli government intentions to construct  the separation barrier between Christian communities near Bethlehem, and ask him to raise his voice for peace for both peoples.

  • Help Stop Israeli Land Grab in the Cremisan Valley

    You need to urge Rep. Fortenberry, your elected representative in the House, to call on the Israeli government to suspend its plan to build another barrier that would divide and harm Christian Palestinians in the communities of Beit Jala and Bethlehem. Even as Secretary of State Kerry works to renew peace talks that will lead to an end of the conflict and end of claims that will render a separation barrier between Israelis and Palestinians unnecessary, this immediate concern needs your attention and action.

    Last month an Israeli court decided under an emergency law to seize land in the Cremisan Valley near Bethlehem to build a section of the separation barrier that will divide a Salesian Catholic monastery from the neighboring Salesian Catholic convent.

    The proposed route of the barrier will connect two Israeli hilltop settlements built after 1967, Gilo and Har Gilo, now separated by the small Cremisan valley where Palestinians graze their sheep and have olive orchards, Salesian monks make wine, and Salesian sisters run a school for local children. All of this work and ministry will be threatened or diminished if the barrier is built.

    Building this section of the separation barrier now, more than a decade after it was first proposed, has little to do with its ostensible purpose of providing security for Israelis.  Many sections of the separation barrier have not been built; anyone wishing to enter Israel from the West Bank can find many places where there is no barrier.  There is no security “emergency” in the quiet Cremisan Valley. There is no legitimate reason to build this barrier now that would destroy much of the Christian social and economic viability in this valley. Actions to establish this barrier are themselves barriers to peace, create more resentment against Israel, and undermine U.S. interests in ending this conflict. 

    Please let Representative Fortenberry know of  your concern about Israeli government intentions to construct  the separation barrier between Christian communities near Bethlehem, and ask him to raise his voice for peace for both peoples.

  • Help Stop Israeli Land Grab in the Cremisan Valley

    Even as Secretary of State Kerry works to renew peace talks that will lead to an end of conflict and end of claims that will render a separation barrier between Israelis and Palestinians unnecessary, you need to urge Rep. Smith, your elected representative in the House, to call on the Israeli government to suspend its plan to build another barrier that would divide and harm Christian Palestinians in the communities of Beit Jala and Bethlehem.

    Last month an Israeli court decided under an emergency law to seize land in the Cremisan Valley near Bethlehem to build a section of the separation barrier that will divide a Salesian Catholic monastery from a Salesian Catholic convent.

    The proposed route of the barrier will connect two Israeli hilltop settlements built after 1967, Gilo and Har Gilo, now separated by the small Cremisan valley where Palestinians graze their sheep and have olive orchards, Salesian monks make wine, and Salesian sisters run a school for local children. All of this work and ministry will be threatened or diminished if the barrier is built.

    Building this section of the separation barrier now more than a decade after it was first proposed has little to do with its ostensible purpose of providing security for Israelis.  Many sections of the separation barrier have not been built; anyone wishing to enter Israel from the West Bank can find many places where there is no barrier.  There is no security “emergency” in the quiet Cremisan Valley. There is no legitimate reason to build this barrier now which would destroy much of the Christian social and economic viability in this valley. Actions to establish this barrier are themselves barriers to peace, create more resentment against Israel, and undermine U.S. interests in ending this conflict.

    Please let Rep. Smith know of  your concern about Israeli government intentions to construct the separation barrier between Christian communities near Bethlehem, and ask him to raise his voice for peace for both peoples.
     

  • Let Your Member of Congress Know You Care About Peace

    Letting Congress know your concerns about peace in the Holy Land is the most important action you can take as an advocate.

    Sharing why you care is effective in helping to make your concerns have an impact. Be specific about what moved you to be concerned. Instead of talking about peace in general, write about a person you know that would have a better life if there was a just, lasting, and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Say why peace matters to you, not why it should matter to them.

    While you may use all of the possible text in the box below, we especially encourage you to add your own beginning so that the Hill staffer who receives your email is more likely to read about your personal concerns.

    By taking this action you will receive future calls to action by CMEP. You will also have the opportunity to subscribe to other CMEP emails.