RAMALLAH, December 28, 2016 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi Wednesday expressed concern over comments made by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, which contradict international reports on the situation of freedom of worship under Israeli occupation.
Ashrawi said he praised Israel for being a “democracy” that “respects freedom of worship,” despite being “well informed of the Israeli violations of the freedom to worship of his own community during Easter and is also aware of the occupation of the Saint John Convent nearby the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, today turned into another illegal Israeli settlement.”
She said in a press statement “Theophilos III is also well aware of the impact of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem on the Palestinian people in general, and on the Christian population in particular.”
Ashrawi explained that such statement could only be delivered by someone who “aims at distorting reality by disregarding the rights and aspirations of his own congregation.”
Recalling the very recent construction of the separation wall in Beit Jala, Ashrawi questioned whether “Patriarch Theophilos did anything in order to defend the lands that members of his own congregation recently lost in Cremisan.”
“Or the fact that thousands of Palestinian Christians cannot access their own Holy Sites in Occupied East Jerusalem due to Israel’s illegal annexation Wall and other movement restrictions.”
She added to that the situation of thousands of Palestinian families, including hundreds of Christian families, who were divided due to racist Israeli citizenship laws.
The Kairos Document, signed by Palestinian theologians and religious leaders from all congregations, has clearly stated that “religious liberty is severely restricted; the freedom of access to the holy places is denied under the pretext of security,” she explained.
Many Christians and Muslims from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have ed access to Jerusalem and its holy places. Even Palestinians of Jerusalem face restrictions during the religious feasts, while some Arab clergy are regularly barred from entering Jerusalem.
She called upon Patriarch Theophilos III to work for justice and peace of the oppressed rather than covering up the daily violations of the oppressors.
M.H
