JERUSALEM, July 18, 2017 (WAFA) – Archbishop Atallah (Theodosios) Hanna from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Tuesday warned that recent Israeli heightened measures in occupied East Jerusalem can also affect Christian holy places.
“Muslim and Christian holy sites and endowments are targeted by the Israeli occupation authorities. The Israeli occupation does not distinguish between Muslims and Christians nor does it exclude anyone from its measures,” said Hanna in a statement.
“Today al-Aqsa Mosque; tomorrow the Church of Holy Sepulcher,” he said in reference to recent Israeli measures at the Muslim holy place.
Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is currently targeted by Israeli occupation measures, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher would be targeted in the future, the only Orthodox Palestinian archbishop, who is renowned for his activism against the Israeli occupation, he added.
Israel has installed metal detectors at two of the compound’s gates, namely Lions’ Gate (Bab al-Asbat) and the Council Gate (Bab al-Majlis), forcing Muslim worshippers to pray at the closest points to the mosque.
“Over the previous years, more closures were imposed ]by Israeli authorities[ on the city and more Israeli military checkpoints were set up, obstructing Jerusalemites’ free movement and access to their workplaces,” he added.
“The Israeli occupation authorities have stepped up their measures in order to change the character of East Jerusalem and turn Jerusalemite Palestinians, who are being harshly treated, humiliated and denied their basic rights, into a minority in their own city,” he said.
“The Israeli occupation authorities plan to extend their domination and agendas on the Noble Sanctuary and seek to expropriate Christian endowments in the Holy Land using illegal tricky methods,” he added.
He noted the Israeli checkpoints and roadblocks have turned Jerusalem into a military encampment making it far more difficult to access the mosque compound and Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
He urged Christian prelates to “take immediate actions in order to stop the current dangerous deterioration of the situation in the Holy City and bring an end to the Israeli occupation’s policies targeting the mosque compound and the city.”
K.F./M.K.
