Aboud

Aboud

Two thousand two hundred People live in Aboud.

900 of them are Christian, the rest are Muslim.

Below the village is a Roman Road linking Jerusalem with the Galilee

Jesus and the Holy Family would have used this road

Protestant Church

Fr. Abdallah Sumrein The Orthodox Priest

Catholic Church

Midnight Mass

The Green Line = Border with Israel Aboud Line of THE WALL

Note the locations of the Beit Arye and Ofarim Settlements

The occupying power shall not deport or transfer part of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies

Fourth Geneva Convention Article 49, Paragraph 6

Beit Arye Settlement Built on land confiscated from Aboud and neighbouring Palestinian villages

Settlements are not located in areas of large Arab population, not because I shied away from this but because the Arabs did not settle in areas that were of interest to us--because they are difficult regions. Were there Arabs in Beit Arye? Did someone live in the area of Ofarim? Not today or ever.

Ariel Sharon interview in the Israeli newspaper Davar, July 14, 1995

Spring fed swimming pool in the Lemon Valley, Aboud village.

A ‘difficult region’ according to Sharon!

On a major aquifer and with relatively high precipitation (

700mm of precipitation annually)

Aboud sustains cultivation of fruit and olive trees, cereal grains and grapevines.

Home in Aboud Village

Were there Arabs in Beit Arye? Did someone live in the area of Ofarim? Not today or ever. Ariel Sharon

The Catholic Church is built on the Site of the ancient church of St. Simon

Remains of St. Simon’s below the modern church

Orthodox Church

Aramaic Plaque

A ruined aisle of St. Mary’s Church has been excavated

Revealing a mosaic floor

Remains of other Ancient Churches in Aboud

•Messiah Church – Located where tradition says Jesus preached •Saint Anastasia Church •Saint Abadia Church •Knnasieh Church •Saint Todros Church •Dare Al-Kawkab Church

Al-Maqati an area with ancient tombs

Carvings of grapes were cut from this tomb In Palestine it is common for archaeological sites to be raided for Israeli collectors

On a hillside facing Aboud are extensive 4 Monastery th -7 th Century remains of St. Barbara’s

At St. Barbara’s cave a small church remained in good repair It was in regular use and the centre of festivities on St. Barbara's feast day

On 31

st

May 2002 the Israeli Army blew up the ancient Church of St. Barbara

Aboudis viewing the destruction

It has now been rebuilt

In November 2000 Settlers and the Israeli Army cut or burnt 4000 Aboud Olive Trees.

In October 2005 Settlers uprooted 500 vines.

Road Block

Only one access road is now open into the village Aboud used to be a thriving centre, providing a secondary school, shops and services for neighbouring villages. Now it is a quiet cul-de-sac with shutters closed on most businesses.

Aboudies want to live in tranquillity.

But they are slowly being crushed by expanding Israeli settlements, military occupation with restrictions on movement, and construction of Israel’s land confiscation wall.

Fourteen Kilometres of the wall is being built within the village boundaries.

We will tear down their Wall with our hands, We will defeat their racism with our determination

Aboud 10th March 2006 Left: Cardinal Mc Carrick , President of the American Catholic Bishops Conference Centre right: Michel Sabbah Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Christian-Muslim Unity Archamandrite (now Bishop) Attallah Hanna with Grand Mufti Shaikh Taysir al-Tamimi.

The Green Line = Border with Israel Line of THE WALL Aboud

The wall could Isolate Aboud farmers from:-

•26% of their land. •389 Hectares of their land •Many of their Olive and Fruit Trees •A significant part of the water

Aquifer

•Rantis and other villages to the

North North West

Time.com

West Bank West Bank

On 9 July 2004 the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that:

•The construction of the wall being built by Israel, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, is contrary to international law.

•Israel is under an obligation to cease construction of the wall and to dismantle forthwith the structure.

•Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall.

•All States are under an obligation not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation.

•The United Nations, and especially the General Assembly and the Security Council, should consider what further action is required to bring to an end the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall.

The threat facing Aboud is not unique.

•The Separation Barrier confiscates

land from many Palestinian villages

•It is destroying the possibility of

establishing a viable Palestinian state existing peacefully side by side with Israel

•Its construction creates poverty,

resentment and anger

The barrier at Aboud is part of a section that could extend 22 kilometres into the West Bank.

Ariel, the largest illegal settlement could be annexed to Israel

Border with Israel Line of the Barrier Israeli Settlements

l I S R A E

Palestinian villages

Aboud Ariel West Bank

Map produced by the U.N.

Fr Firas Aridah Catholic Parish Priest in Aboud

We announce publicly and decisively and under all the circumstances that we completely refuse the building of this segregation wall on the lands of our village… we will resist against this wall in all the possible legal and information means. We will also arrange for peaceful demonstrations and protests in Aboud against the wall.

What future is there for the people of Aboud?

Please act to save this unique and special community

The Green Line = Border with Israel Aboud

Campaigning makes a difference Red The line of the wall proposed in March 2005 Orange.

The line of the wall proposed in October 2005

The Green Line = Border with Israel Aboud

But the wall will still take a lot of land far beyond the settlements, including a hill one kilometre south of Ofarim.

Aboud will be cut off from Rantis and Al-Lubban.

Send messages of protest to the Israeli Embassy and Government

Ask our Government to: -

• Take action to save Aboud • Work for Israeli compliance with the Fourth Geneva Convention • Ensure that the UN enforces the International Court of Justice ruling

Help these Aboud children have a future of justice, peace and freedom

Produced by Leicestershire Holy Land Appeal www.leics-holyland.gothere.uk.com