Bir ‘Awna: The Neighborhood Israel Snatched from Beit Jala

September 9, 2024 | Published by Jerusalem Story

Before Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, Bir ‘Awna (Arabic for Well of Assistance), roughly 326 dunums in size, was a neighborhood of the town of Beit Jala in the Palestinian Bethlehem Governorate, just 2 kilometers from Bethlehem’s city cen...

The Separation Barrier

November 11, 2017 | Published by B'TSELEM

In June 2002, Israel began constructing the Separation Barrier in the West Bank, claiming security concerns after Palestinian attacks. However, its route largely follows settlement boundaries, facilitating Israel's annexation of Palestinian land. The...