Al Walaja Fights Back Illegal Construction of the Wall

In recent weeks, there have been significant legal developments concerning the Al Walaja residents’ legal efforts to challenge the route of the Wall, which could effectively encircle Al Walaja and confiscate more privately-owned Palestinian land.

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Al Walaja Demonstration against the Wall 2011-11-04
Al Walaja Demonstration against the Wall. Picture Credit: Anne Paq/ Activestills 

The Friday demonstration was joined by several dozen residents and supporters from Israel and abroad. The protests took place near the gates of Har Gilo settlement, which is located literally on the top of Al Walaja, overlooking the village. During the protest, demonstrators sang songs and chanted slogans against the Wall and land confiscation. Near the end of the demonstration, while protesters were making their way back into the village, they were followed by two military jeeps who tried to provoke and incite violence. This attempt, however, was quite unsuccessful, and the demonstration dispersed peacefully. The local popular committee promised to maintain and expand the struggle in the coming critical weeks, as construction works are being renewed.

A similar demonstration also took place in the neighboring village of Al Ma'asara, where some 100 residents and activists flew kites and played ball games. The demonstration was blocked by the army however no injuries or arrests were reported.

Demonstration at Al Walaja 2011-11-04
Picture Credit: Anne Paq/ Activestills  

Al Walaja, with a population of approximately 2,000 residents, is located north-west of Bethlehem and south-west of Jerusalem.  In a recent decision regarding the western section of the Wall, (on the ‘West Bank’ side), the Israeli High Court lifted an interim injunction that had managed to stop work on the Wall in that area since 28 December 2010.  On a positive note, the judgment confirmed a partial change in the route of the Wall, keeping an ancient water spring and a cemetery within the ‘West Bank’ side of the Wall.  However, the decision also rejected another proposed change to the Wall’s path, which means that a large area of agricultural land owned by residents of Al Walaja will remain on the ‘Jerusalem’ side of the Wall, accessible only by agricultural gates and a permit system.  Construction of the Wall continues although legal procedures are not exhausted.

 Residents have raised a number of critical legal concerns in their appeal against the Wall: the wall will highly impede residents' access to their lands, the fact that lands were expropriated without necessary court orders and that construction persisted despite court deliberations without any security justification. Furthermore, at least in one part of the planned route of the Wall, a house will be completely encircled.  At the same time, the expansion of the nearby settlement continues, proving beyond doubt that the main motivation for building the Wall is to advance Jewish settlements on Palestinian lands. For further reading see a detailed legal briefing on the situation in Al Walaja.