Residents of Barta’a and the surrounding areas isolated and repeatedly assaulted

Wednesday May 23, 2007 23:41

by Mustafa Sabri – IMEMC

Barta'a Map

Wasfy Qabha, Palestinian Minister in charge of Settlements and the Wall portfolio reported that Israel has increased its attacks against the Palestinians people, and institutions, and that the Israeli Annexation Wall totally isolated the residents of Barta’a village, and its surrounding areas.

Qabha stated that residents of Barta’a, Um Al Reehan, Khirbit Abdullah Younis, Al Mintar Al Sharqy and Al Mintar Al Gharby, are totally isolated by the Wall and the residents are forced to go through a gate controlled by Israeli guards who repeatedly shut it down without any prior notice or reason.

He added that the residents are humiliated and attacked by the soldiers on this gate and that these attacks and violations has significantly increased since the army handed the “security” responsibility on the gate to a private Israeli security company.

Qabha said that Israel is not interested in peace, and wants to continue its violations to make the daily lives of the residents unbearable in order to force them to leave their homes and lands.

“Israel wants the land without its people”, Qabha stated, “We have to expose the illegal Israeli measures and attacks, Israel is forcing the residents out of their lands”.

Qabha called on the Unites Nations, its secretary-general and the international community to implement the international resolutions, and added that the world must remember that the advisory decision of the International Court of Justice considered the Annexation Wall as illegal since it is built on Palestinian lands, and is isolating the residents.

He also called on the International Community to expose the Israeli violations, invasions, assassination, attacks, and land expropriation.

Qabha added that the international community must send observers to witness the Israeli violations against the Palestinian civilians, and the violations on checkpoints and the gates of the annexation Wall.

He also appealed the Arab governments and people to take clear decisions in support of the Palestinian people who are living under Israeli occupation and facing daily attacks, invasions and assassinations.

Translated by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC