Church Leaders in Jerusalem Protest Israeli Court

Jerusalem, MINA – Church leaders in Jerusalem on Tuesday expressed a joint protest over an Israeli court ruling on Greek Orthodox Church property at the Jaffa Gate of the occupied Jerusalem city.

“We, Heads of Churches and Christian Communities in Jerusalem, are united in our commitment to safeguard the historical Status Quo of the Holy Sites and Church rights that are universally recognized,” church leaders said as quoted from WAFA News Agency.

‘We are concerned about the recent decision of the Jerusalem District Court, which rejects evidence that shows the case of the Greek Orthodox Church. We demand justice, “the statement said.

The Greek Orthodox Church is fighting in the courts of Jewish settlement organizations that are trying to take over Jaffa Gate’s property under the pretext of ownership, a claim which the church strongly opposes.

“We don’t see this case as just a property dispute. “We see the efforts of radical Jewish groups wanting to take control of property at Jaffa Gate as a systematic effort to undermine the integrity of the Holy City, to obstruct Christian pilgrimage routes and to weaken Christian presence in Jerusalem,” said 13 church leaders.

They called on the Israeli government “to act in order to maintain the integrity of Christian heritage and heritage in the Old City, as well as the Sacred Site and the rights of the residents of the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem.”

The statement was signed by Patriarch Theophilos Ill, Greek Orthodox, Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarch, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate, Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land, Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch, Jerusalem, Archbishop Gabriel Daho, Syrian Patriarchate Orthodox, Archbishop Aba Embakob, Archbishop of Ethiopia Orthodox, Archbishop Yaser Al-Ayash, Archbishop of Gabriel Daho, Archbishop of Syrian Orthodox, Archbishop Aba Embakob, Archbishop of Ethiopian Orthodox, Archbishop Yaser Al-Ayash, Archbishop of Greece, Dah Daho, Patriarch of Orthodox Syria, Archbishop Aba Embakob, Archbishop of Ethiopia Orthodox, Archbishop Yaser Al-Ayash, Archbishop of Greece Greek Archbishop Gabriel Daho, Patriarchate of Orthodox Syria, Archbishop Aba Embakob, Archbishop of Orthodox Ethiopia, Archbishop Yaser Al-Ayash, Archbishop of Greece Catholic Patriarch Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Patriarchal Maronite Patriarch, Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Father Ephram Samaan, Patriarchate Patriarchate of Syria and the Middle East, Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Father Ephram Samaan, Patriarchate of the Syrian Catholic Patriarchate, and Rt Rev. Joseph Nerses Zabarian, and Ruler of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchy. (T/RE1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)