Father Malagola, of the Custody of the Holy Land: It's a permanent hell for Palestinians and a source of fear for Israelis

Vatican City (AsiaNews) –The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is to rule tomorrow on the legality of the wall Israel is building for security purposes in the Palestinian territories. The ruling comes after the United Nations (U.N.) adopted a resolution on December 8, 2003, sending the issue of Israel's security wall to the ICJ and follows the decision by Israel's Supreme Court on June 30 requiring the government to change the wall alignment and take into considerations the needs of the Palestinian population. 

 For Gaza and West Bank residents the present situation is a "permanent hell", a "lifeless existence", says Father Marco Malagola, delegate of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Custody of the Holy Land, speaking on Vatican radio about the impact of the barrier on the daily lives of Palestinians.

 "Building this wall," he adds, "can only crush any hope Palestinians have. Far from being a security wall, it simply fuels their sense of hopelessness. We are talking about people who are living in desperation, who see no future for themselves. It doesn't matter whether it is Gaza, Nablus, Jenin, Hebron. You can't imagine what it means for people there."

 "It's a permanent hell, because people live in constant fear. A night doesn't go by without the loud racket caused by rolling tanks or low-flying planes. It's war. No one can move from one town to the next. Families are divided. Farmers can't till their fields."

 Of course, Israelis are also suffering in the Holy Land. "All these suicide bombers who blow themselves up in buses, restaurants, discos engender an enduring sense of fear. However, if I had to say who suffers the most, it is those who live divided and separated under a brutal occupation. There are times when people have to wait for hours at a checkpoint only to be told they can't cross. It's a lifeless existence.

 If there is anyone who isn't beating around the bush, that's the Pope, because he says "No" to the occupation, "No" to the settlements, but "Yes" to a greater compliance of U.N. resolutions. If there is a Gordian knot that needs to be cut it is that of the occupation which oppresses people, takes away their freedom and destroys any hope they might have in the future."

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