June 21, 2014
EcoPeace / Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) is very glad to report that after many years of relentless work towards protecting the beautiful terraced landscape of Battir, yesterday afternoon UNESCO registered Battir as a World Heritage site in danger.
Gidon Bromberg, Israeli Director at FoEME says: “at this difficult moment of continued violence in the region, Battir remains a ray of hope for cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians towards a better future.”
Nader Khateeb, FoEME’s Palestinian Director added: “FoEME now awaits the decision of the High Court of Israel as to whether the court will prevent the building of the Separation Barrier and accept FoEME’s petition that there are alternative means to maintain security without destroying what is officially, as of yesterday, a site of World Heritage to all of humanity”.
FoEME congratulates the Battir Village Council, our “Good Water Neighbor” communities, local Palestinian and Israeli activists, our staff and our many supporters for this UNESCO listing.
For more information:
- Gidon Bromberg – Israeli Director, FoEME; 052-4532597; gidon@foeme.org
- Nader Khateeb – Palestinian Director, FoEME; 059-9606544; nader@foeme.org (out of country this week)
- Mohammed Obidallah – Palestinian “Good Water Neighbors”‘ Project Coordinator; 054-3461155; mohammed@foeme.org