Refusing to accept apartheid in Beit Jala

Now, the construction of Israel's separation wall is in full swing and will cut off another 45 per cent of Beit Jala's land. We went to visit the area to feel the impact of the wall and listen to the stories of the farmers who didn't sell their land and choose to resist the its confiscation.

Yacoub Salim Abu Amsha

Abu Salim on his land near the wall. Our guide accompanies us to the house of 86-year-old Yacoub Salim Abu Amsha. His garden borders Aida refugee camp which was established in 1950. Our guide explains that Road 60 is built on the land of Abu Salim, which is about three kilometers from where he lives. Road 60 is a bypass road for Jewish settlers; Palestinians are prohibited from using it. Our guide met Abu Salim a few years ago when he saw a desperate old man walking in his field while Israeli bulldozers were in his olive orchard. He stopped and talked to the old man. Abu Salim was desperate, because the Israelis planned to uproot his trees including a very old olive tree which he said dated back to Roman times. In 1933 his grandfather pointed to that olive tree and told him to take care of it because olive trees are a blessing. His grandfather was very attached to this particular tree and Abu Salim looked after it his entire life. Abu Salim had told our guide, "if the Israelis uproot my grandfather's old tree, I will die."

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