Palestinian Christians living in the Cremisan Valley whose land is being divided by the Israeli separation barrier "have lost hope", according to a US bishop visiting the West Bank.
13 bishops from North America, South Africa and Europe forming the Holy Land Coordination visited the Cremisan Valley on 10 January, an area of Palestine that is being torn apart by the construction of a security barrier.
"It was very sad to see the present situation where individuals have their lands confiscated and trees uprooted," Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, New Mexico told CNS.
"This is a sign of something much larger. It seems to be a diminishing of the rights of Palestinians to be there and a lack of acknowledgement of their legitimate right to be present whether in the state of Israel or in Palestinian lands."
The security barrier is being erected on land confiscated from Palestinians, including 55 Christians, in the agricultural valley adjacent to Beit Jala, despite years of legal protests.
The same young people that were preciously attending Mass every Friday in order to bring attention to their plight have now resorted to throwing rocks at Israeli checkpoints, according to Xavier Abu Eid, a Palestinian Authority spokesman.
The reality is that the situation is not "simply politics" but about "people's lives and about their dignity," Bishop Cantu said, having met with Nahleh Abu Eid, 76, who has lost free access to the diminished portion of his agricultural land that he still owns.
"They had held out hope the land would be saved," Cantu said. "Getting their hopes up – only to have them broken – does no good."
It is essential at this time that people continue to come and stand in solidarity with Palestinian Christians, he added, emphasising the importance of pilgrimage.
"The violence has not hurt tourists and pilgrims. There are skirmishes here and there, but generally pilgrimages are very safe. It is most important to come on pilgrimage to support the Christian community here when tourists are staying away," he said.
"Christians are effectively being squeezed out and understandably at any opportunity they can, they (leave)... because of the checkpoints, their inability to reach their jobs so they can make a living, in Gaza they can't get out to visit family," Cantu said.
"Our job is to encourage them to stay here if they can and to advocate for them politically so they have the space and energy to work and live in peace and flourish."
The Holy Land Coordination consists of Bishop Declan Lang of Bristol; Auxiliary Bishop William Kenney of Birmingham; Bishop Lionel Gendron of St. Jean-Longueuil, Quebec; Bishop John McAreavey of Dromore, Ireland; and Bishop William Nolan of Galloway, Scotland.