Abu Dis: A Palestinian Town Tarred by the Israeli Wall

February 4, 2004

To the southeast of Jerusalem is where the Palestinian Town Abu Dis is located, a home for more than 11,500 Palestinians and a vital center to several surrounding Palestinian communities:

Al-Sawahereh Al-Sharqieh & Al-Gharbieh. Population: 4,910 residents.
Ash-Sheikh Sa'd. Population: 2,267 residents.
Al-Eizariya. Population: 16,395 residents

In late December 2003, the Israeli government commenced stage two of the Segregation Wall in Abu Dis area, which aims to besiege the town from its northeastern and northwestern boundaries. The town will fall under siege soon enough as the work to put up the Wall continues around the clock. See Photo 1

Rigging-up the 8 meters (27 feet) cement partitions just few meters away from the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) located in the heart of Abu Dis. The Wall route continues to disrupt the town of Abu Dis and the Palestinian families living in it. See Photo 2

The Israeli so-called ''Security Wall'' created tangible segregated zone within the town as families living 3 meters (10 feet) apart are incapable of communicating with one another. The Wall even resulted in blocking out the daylight from these houses. Some houses among others received demolition orders from the Israeli Army. The Israeli army officer advised the house-owners to take-up the matter with the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality, but the Municipality in its turn offered to buy the houses from the Palestinian residents. Naturally, the house-owners refused to sell and submitted a petition to the Israeli court to avert the demolition order. See Photo 3 & Photo 4

Ras Qubsih is an area located at the northwestern border of Abu Dis and an entrance to Jerusalem city. Some 15 months earlier, the Israeli Army blocked the entrance with 4 meters (14 feet) cement partitions to prevent the people from entering Jerusalem. Abu Dis residents, the surrounding communities in addition to the West Bank residents were denied entrance to Jerusalem as the only cross point designated for that purpose was all-time guarded by the Israeli Army. Click here for more information

During the latest Israeli activities in that area, the 4 meters cement partitions where substituted with the new 8 meters partitions, making sure all accesses to Jerusalem are completely sealed. The great majority of residents in Abu Dis and the surrounding communities are holders of the Israeli Identification cards (blue ID) which entitle them free access to Jerusalem. By segregating Abu-Dis into two entities, a break down of social structure in addition to other life aspects: economy, health, educational ..etc expected to manifest. The surrounding communities will suffer no less damage, if not worse, as the residents' will be cut off from Abu Dis town and Jerusalem city at the same time.

Abu Dis has an area of 28,232 Dunums (11,293 Acers). The Segregation Wall will detach some 6000 Dunums of agricultural land in that area and cost the residents of the community the loss of a considerable share of their income. See Photo 5

Another parts of the segregated area in Abu Dis designated for the towns future expansion, the lack of such areas will lead to voluntary migration of Abu Dis residents to other areas, possibly on the outskirts of Jerusalem where they might be at risk of losing residential privileges. See Photo 6

At the early Israeli work on the Segregation Wall, land properties of several monasterial lands ''Der Almahaba'', ''Der Gargoury' and ''Der Beit Fajey'' in Al-Eizariya where violated, for more information, click here.

Recently, while rigging-up the Wall in Abu Dis archeological burials where excavated near Abu Dis University. The Israeli Archeology Administration claimed the excavated burials and restricted entrance to the area only to authorized personnel after enclosing the site (where the burials found) with 8 meters cement partitions and resumed the excavation unilaterally without disclosing any information regarding the discoveries with the Palestinian Archeology Administration.

Abu Dis is an example of many Palestinian areas victimized by the Israel actions and the Segregation Wall.

The Israeli activities in the Palestinian territories have surpassed illegality long ago as it violated countless international laws including the Forth Geneva Convention of 1949 and United Nations Resolutions. Furthermore, the Israeli heedlessness to the United Nations and the Security Council's decisions must not go with impunity. More pictures of the Wall in Abu Dis city

The Segregation Wall in Abu Dis city