WASHINGTON, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS: Concerned Armenian Americans from all fifty states are using an Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) internet campaign to urge the Bush Administration to formally protest the Israeli government’s recent seizure of Armenian land located in the northern outskirts of Bethlehem, ANCA told Armenpress.
The land, known as Baron Der, is an Armenian Apostolic Church administrative center, religious retreat, training center, income-producing orchard, and archaeological site that holds great meaning to the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Armenian Apostolic Catholicosates in Echmiadzin and Cilicia, the government of Armenia, and Armenians throughout the world.
The Israeli government, which has a history of seeking control over Baron Der, is now seeking to justify its take-over as a crisis response necessary for its construction of a security wall between Jerusalem and the town of Bethlehem. Despite good faith efforts by the Patriarchate to resolve this issue through negotiations and the courts, the Israeli Army has insisted that its seizure is irreversible and has indicated that it will begin construction through the Armenian land in the very near future.
According to a July 20th press release by the Armenian Apostolic Patriarch, the building of this wall, separating the West Bank and Israel, “will divide the sacred property into two useless plots.” Armenian Americans continue to voice their concern to Secretary Powell as well as to incoming Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon through the ANCA website: www.anca.org.
Meantime a source close to the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem was quoted by Armenian newspapers as saying that the Israeli defense ministry and the military command of the West bank have reaffirmed plans to build the separation wall.
The Patriarchate has no alternative but to apply, on the one hand to the international community, and on the other hand, to seek justice at the hight court of Israel, the source said.
Another official told on condition of unanimity that the Israeli government did not consider this issue at July 24 session. ‘We were officially told that the decision remains in force and that the wall will go through the estate. The Patriarchate cannot put up with this though and has applied to the high court,’ he said.
Also Armenian Assembly Executive Director John Jamian has sent letters to President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Affairs Advisor Condoleezza Rice expressing concerns over reports that the Israeli Army has occupied lands and properties belonging to the Armenian Patriarchate, the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) reported.
The Armenian presence in the region dates back more than 16 centuries. The Patriarchate was founded in 638 AD. The Israeli Army seized the 35-acre site and its hundreds-of-years-old olive trees for a planned security fence between the Palestinian town of Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Jamian asked the Administration to investigate the matter and assist in resolving it.
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