On Thursday, the 27th of April 2006, the Israeli bulldozers backed by police guards resumed the constructions of the final stage of the Segregation Wall in the vicinity of Rachel's Tomb which is extending 1.3 kilometers, starting from Rachel's Tomb Crossing Point (Terminal) to enclave the Tomb area in the northern entrance of Bethlehem city.
The Israeli bulldozers had lined up the Bethlehem-Jerusalem road (Rachel's Tomb Road) from the middle with small holes in the ground to install iron rods which indicate the path of the Segregation Wall that is going to engulf the area. See Photo 1 & Photo 2
This Bethlehem-Jerusalem road was vital before the eruption of the second Intifada in September 2000, and was closed with concrete blocks by the Israeli soldiers soon after the Intifada erupted and Palestinians were hindered from accessing it and is still closed until this day. See Photo 3 & Photo 4
As seen also at the site of construction, a large circle was drawn on the ground indication the construction of another military watch tower opposite to the one already constructed. The vacant land segregated inside the constructed wall part belongs to Sansour's Family and is 4.8 dunums of land. Next to the land is the house of Mussallam family, a coffee Shop that also belongs to Mussallam family and the Blacksmith of Mr. Tawfeek Sarhan An Natsheh. See Photo 5and is 4.8 dunums of land. Next to the land is the house of Mussallam family, a coffee Shop that also belongs to Mussallam family and the Blacksmith of Mr. Tawfeek Sarhan An Natsheh. See Photo 5
The new construction activities came as a continuation to the part of the Segregation Wall that was constructed during the end of March and beginning of April 2006 which included the addition of 56 cement wall blocks (Photo 6) of 12 meters high in the area along with a military watch tower.
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Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
