Israel’s top court blocks wall extension severing Cremisan Valley

Israel’s top court has blocked the controversial planned extension of Israel’s separation wall through the historic Cremisan valley. The Cremisan community has been fighting against the Israeli defence ministry’s plans to sever the Valley with the wall for nine years.

The valley lies in the small town of Beit Jala, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. For over 150 years, monks from the Salesian order have made the famous Cremisan wine from the grapes in the area.

Today the valley is home to the Salesian Sisters of Cremisan’s convent, the Salesian monastery, a school, 58 families and the Cremisan Cellars.

Under Israel’s original plan, the convent school, which educates several hundred Palestinian children from the surrounding villages, would have been on the Israeli side of the separation wall. Students would have been required to cross an Israeli military checkpoint to get to class.

Palestinians appealed to two popes to intervene to save the valley, in an issue that became a source of friction between Israel and the Vatican. The mayor of Bethlehem, Vera Baboun, most recently made a direct appeal to Pope Francis during an audience with him in February.

The campaign against the severing of the valley was also taken up by William Hague when he was UK foreign secretary, and the archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols.