British Consulate General opens health clinic in Hebron’s Old City
James Downer opens a UK funded emergency health clinic in the Salimeh neighbourhood of Hebron’s Old City.
Deputy British Consul General in Jerusalem, James Downer, opened a UK funded emergency health clinic in the Salimeh neighbourhood of Hebron’s Old City. The clinic was rehabilitated by the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, through British support.
The Salimeh neighbourhood is in the H2 area, so Palestinian ambulances and cars are prevented from entering the neighbourhood. The clinic will provide immediate emergency medical care to 1,600 residents who used to have to travel an hour to reach medical facilities outside the old city. The emergency clinic will be accessible 7 days a week.
During the opening event, Mr Downer said:
I’m honoured to be here at the opening of the Salimeh Clinic in Hebron’s Old City and I’m proud that the UK supported its rehabilitation. This clinic will bring urgent medical care to the Salimeh neighbourhood, which is constantly affected by movement and access restrictions and desperately needs a medical facility.
Hebron is one example of something we see throughout the West Bank – the dire impact of settlements on Palestinians going about their daily activities on their land. I want to reiterate the British Government’s fundamental opposition to settlements. The UK’s position is clear: Settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two state solution. We consistently call on Israel to end all settlement activity.