Bethlehem Residents Have No Water Because of Congress

Ali Waked
Ynet/Israel News
05 August 09

Water supply divided between West Bank city's neighborhoods on weekly basis moved entirely to Fatah conference area; residents suffering from blocked roads as well. Meanwhile, Fatah officials split over absent Gaza delegates

BETHLEHEM – The Fatah movement is attempting to present its first congress in 20 years being held in Bethlehem as a success. The organization is mostly trying to convey a sense of "business as usual" and in terms of the status of Gaza Strip and Fatah activists living in the Strip, who have been stopped by Hamas from traveling to the West Bank for the conference.

But those who are really suffering from heat are the West Bank city's residents, who are waiting for the conference to conclude Thursday. A store owner on the city's main street says the Bethlehem's neighborhoods share the water flow – which is supplied every other week.

Related: 'Water Not Being Withheld In West Bank'

"This time the entire flow is directed to the conference area, and we are forced to manage without any water. (Anyone surprised?) Otherwise, we can buy containers for NIS 500 (about $129), which are enough for up to four days for an average family."

Without any running water and in light of the boosted presence of thousands of security officers, Bethlehem's residents are trying to go on with their lives. "Half of the city's streets are closed, and every time a senior official's convoy passes, the main road is closed," says the store owner.

The Palestinian added that the congress delegates have not left even one vacant hotel room. "But this is not the problem – we expected the hotel area to be busy and closed. The problem is with the senior officials who have rented villas and houses in areas far from the conference, and every time they move, the entire world has to stop. It harms people's life routine."
(Full article)
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