Churches reject attempts to weaken Christian presence in Jerusalem
As the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is stalled and the Israeli right-wing government is working to expand settlements, Jerusalem-based churches find themselves once again in the spotlight with talks about them selling lands to Israel.
The absence of any progress in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations appears to have increased the Israeli appetite for grabbing more land and strategic locations. The problem seems most acute in Jerusalem and centers on church property in the holy city.
Jerusalem-based churches issued a strongly worded statement Sept. 4 condemning what they called Israel’s attempts to change the status quo in the city. The joint statement, signed by the heads of the Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Lutheran and Anglican churches, reiterated the importance of governments respecting the rights and privileges of churches.
