Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishop William Nolan of Galloway was part of an international delegation turned away from a disputed site in the Holy Land by border police this week.

A group of 12 bishops from Europe, South Africa and North America visited the Cremisan Valley on Monday as part of the Holy Land Coordination.

The valley is the site of a controversial barrier which is being built by Israel and divides Palestinian land. It has been a continual site of protests from Palestinian Christians.

Bishop Nolan told Catholic News Service that he came away with a sense of helplessness with the continuing desolation of the situation there, adding that according to figures they were given, only 20 percent of the infrastructure destroyed in the 2014 war had been rebuilt.

“I would love to see the borders of Gaza open up and for there to be freedom of movement across the border,” he said. “Keeping people fenced in that way is not good or healthy. It does not help either the Israelis or the Palestinians.”

In total 55 Christian families have had their land near the village of Beit Jalla confiscated to make room for the new barrier.

During the visit, the bishops were asked to leave but were allowed to stay for a briefing from lawyer Raffoul Rofa of the Society of St Yves Catholic Center for Human Rights.

The lawyer explained that while in theory the landowners will be allowed through the barrier to access their olive trees, in the past farmers are often been denied access.

The bishops have now travelled on to Jordan where they will meet Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

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