8 aug 2017
The leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II discussed with the Egyptian ambassador to Israel Hazem Khairat ongoing efforts to reconstruct Deir al-Sultan archeological site in Occupied Jerusalem.
Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church Boulos Halim said in a statement posted on Facebook that the pope met with ambassador Khairat over the latest developments as regards the reconstruction of Deir al-Sultan. No further details were revealed on the issue.
Deir al-Sultan is a holy Christian site located in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Israel grabbed hold of the site following the 1967 war and handed it over to the Ethiopian church after it expelled the Coptic orthodox monks.
The Coptic Church won over 100 lawsuits filed at the Israeli Supreme Court to retrieve the site.
Spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church Boulos Halim said in a statement posted on Facebook that the pope met with ambassador Khairat over the latest developments as regards the reconstruction of Deir al-Sultan. No further details were revealed on the issue.
Deir al-Sultan is a holy Christian site located in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Israel grabbed hold of the site following the 1967 war and handed it over to the Ethiopian church after it expelled the Coptic orthodox monks.
The Coptic Church won over 100 lawsuits filed at the Israeli Supreme Court to retrieve the site.
6 aug 2017
Father Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of the Palestinian Orthodox Church in Occupied Jerusalem, has threatened to stage protests against the real estate deals that involved the lease of three church-owned buildings for a right-wing Jewish settler group in east Jerusalem.
In his meeting on Sunday with Christian clerics in Jerusalem, Father Hanna stated that the Orthodox Church would not allow Jewish settlers to live in buildings that are part of the Christian Orthodox heritage in the holy city, pledging to thwart the Israeli plan.
Father Hanna called for urgent action to prevent any Jewish settler from occupying the church-owned properties in Bab al-Khalil (Jaffa Gate) area of the Old City.
“We call for practical steps to foil this conspiratorial scheme against the Christian presence in our holy city,” he said.
“As the Jerusalemites succeeded, with their unity, steadfastness and firmness, in forcing the occupation authorities to remove the metal gates and cameras from the Aqsa Mosque’s entrances, we are also capable, with our unity, fraternity and solidarity, of frustrating this ominous and dangerous plot that targets our Orthodox mortmain properties in Bab al-Khalil,” Archbishop underscored.
“I call for real protest steps, which could include pitching a sit-in tent in Bab al-Khalil near the targeted hotels, or storming these hotels to challenge the settlers who plan to take them over,” he stressed.
The Israeli district court in Jerusalem recently confirmed the validity of three real estate deals struck between officials from the Greek Orthodox Church and overseas straw buyers that acted secretly on behalf of an Israeli right-wing settler group.
The district court ruled that the agreements, in which three major east Jerusalem buildings, including two hotels, had been leased in 2004 for 99 renewable years by Ateret Cohanim organization through three overseas holding companies, were “valid and did not involve a fraudulent activity.”
The deals were so appalling and devastating to the Palestinians because behind them stood Ateret Cohanim, which works to acquire property to establish a Jewish majority in the Old City and in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.
In his meeting on Sunday with Christian clerics in Jerusalem, Father Hanna stated that the Orthodox Church would not allow Jewish settlers to live in buildings that are part of the Christian Orthodox heritage in the holy city, pledging to thwart the Israeli plan.
Father Hanna called for urgent action to prevent any Jewish settler from occupying the church-owned properties in Bab al-Khalil (Jaffa Gate) area of the Old City.
“We call for practical steps to foil this conspiratorial scheme against the Christian presence in our holy city,” he said.
“As the Jerusalemites succeeded, with their unity, steadfastness and firmness, in forcing the occupation authorities to remove the metal gates and cameras from the Aqsa Mosque’s entrances, we are also capable, with our unity, fraternity and solidarity, of frustrating this ominous and dangerous plot that targets our Orthodox mortmain properties in Bab al-Khalil,” Archbishop underscored.
“I call for real protest steps, which could include pitching a sit-in tent in Bab al-Khalil near the targeted hotels, or storming these hotels to challenge the settlers who plan to take them over,” he stressed.
The Israeli district court in Jerusalem recently confirmed the validity of three real estate deals struck between officials from the Greek Orthodox Church and overseas straw buyers that acted secretly on behalf of an Israeli right-wing settler group.
The district court ruled that the agreements, in which three major east Jerusalem buildings, including two hotels, had been leased in 2004 for 99 renewable years by Ateret Cohanim organization through three overseas holding companies, were “valid and did not involve a fraudulent activity.”
The deals were so appalling and devastating to the Palestinians because behind them stood Ateret Cohanim, which works to acquire property to establish a Jewish majority in the Old City and in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.
1 aug 2017
The Israeli district court in Occupied Jerusalem on Monday confirmed the validity of three real estate deals struck between officials from the Greek Orthodox Church and overseas straw buyers that acted secretly on behalf of an Israeli right-wing settler group.
According to Maariv newspaper on Tuesday, the district court judge ruled that the agreements, in which three major east Jerusalem buildings, including two hotels, had been leased for 99 renewable years by Ateret Cohanim organization through three overseas holding companies, were “valid and did not involve a fraudulent activity.”
The leased buildings are located in a sensitive Palestinian-populated area of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The judge said the contracts had been signed in 2004 by those authorized by the Patriarchate and the plaintiffs, and thus ordered the Church to pay 30,000 shekels to Ateret Cohanim group in legal costs.
The judgment will bring more unwelcome attention to the Patriarchate, which is already under fire for a series of real estate sales in west Jerusalem, according to Israeli newspapers.
The 2004 agreements were to lease buildings, not to sell them, but they are for 99 years, renewable for another 99 years, which essentially puts them into the settlers’ hands for good in one of the most visible positions in the Old City, between the Jaffa Gate (Bab al-Khalil) and the Old City market.
The agreements were so appalling and devastating to the Palestinians because behind them stood Ateret Cohanim, which works to acquire property to establish a Jewish majority in the Old City and in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.
The first lease was signed in August 2004 between the Patriarchate and Richards Marketing Corporation for the transfer of the New Imperial Hotel at a cost of $1.25 million.
The second, also signed in August 2004, was reached with Berisford Investments Ltd. for the lease on the Petra Hotel, at a cost of $500,000.
A third deal was signed in October 2004 by Gallow Global Ltd. to lease an Old City property and grounds in Muazmia Street 18 for $55,000.
According to Maariv newspaper on Tuesday, the district court judge ruled that the agreements, in which three major east Jerusalem buildings, including two hotels, had been leased for 99 renewable years by Ateret Cohanim organization through three overseas holding companies, were “valid and did not involve a fraudulent activity.”
The leased buildings are located in a sensitive Palestinian-populated area of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The judge said the contracts had been signed in 2004 by those authorized by the Patriarchate and the plaintiffs, and thus ordered the Church to pay 30,000 shekels to Ateret Cohanim group in legal costs.
The judgment will bring more unwelcome attention to the Patriarchate, which is already under fire for a series of real estate sales in west Jerusalem, according to Israeli newspapers.
The 2004 agreements were to lease buildings, not to sell them, but they are for 99 years, renewable for another 99 years, which essentially puts them into the settlers’ hands for good in one of the most visible positions in the Old City, between the Jaffa Gate (Bab al-Khalil) and the Old City market.
The agreements were so appalling and devastating to the Palestinians because behind them stood Ateret Cohanim, which works to acquire property to establish a Jewish majority in the Old City and in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.
The first lease was signed in August 2004 between the Patriarchate and Richards Marketing Corporation for the transfer of the New Imperial Hotel at a cost of $1.25 million.
The second, also signed in August 2004, was reached with Berisford Investments Ltd. for the lease on the Petra Hotel, at a cost of $500,000.
A third deal was signed in October 2004 by Gallow Global Ltd. to lease an Old City property and grounds in Muazmia Street 18 for $55,000.
19 july 2017
Spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Father Issa Musleh, said on Wednesday that the latest Israeli aggression on al-Aqsa Mosque falls in line with a premeditated plan aimed at dividing the Mosque spatially and temporally exactly like what happened to the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil.
Speaking at a press conference in the presence of Muslim and Christian clerics, Father Musleh called for launching daily demonstrations in which Muslims and Christians take part in support of al-Aqsa Mosque.
"Our churches will be open to Muslim worshipers," he said, stressing the importance of achieving national unity to be able to confront the Israeli violations.
Musleh appealed to the Muslim and Christian worlds to support the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, affirming that Christians in Palestine categorically reject the metal detectors newly set up at al-Aqsa gates.
He pointed out that any attack on the Islamic holy site constitutes an attack on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, asking the United Nations and the Security Council to intervene to stop the Israeli violations.
He suggested sending a Jerusalemite delegation abroad to speak of the situation in Occupied Jerusalem.
Speaking at a press conference in the presence of Muslim and Christian clerics, Father Musleh called for launching daily demonstrations in which Muslims and Christians take part in support of al-Aqsa Mosque.
"Our churches will be open to Muslim worshipers," he said, stressing the importance of achieving national unity to be able to confront the Israeli violations.
Musleh appealed to the Muslim and Christian worlds to support the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, affirming that Christians in Palestine categorically reject the metal detectors newly set up at al-Aqsa gates.
He pointed out that any attack on the Islamic holy site constitutes an attack on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, asking the United Nations and the Security Council to intervene to stop the Israeli violations.
He suggested sending a Jerusalemite delegation abroad to speak of the situation in Occupied Jerusalem.
2 july 2017
Greek Orthodox Patriarch said, in a statement, that it did not sell any lands or properties in its ownership.
Jordanian members of Parliament called on bot Jordanian and Palestinian governments to exert pressure, on the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem, to cancel the sale of more than 500 dunams of the Orthodox Christian endowment, in occupied Jerusalem, to the Israeli occupation municipality.
About 40 Jordanian members have criticized, according to Al Ray, the stance of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, calling, in a statement, to stop its policy of underestimating the Christian endowentment in Jerusalem. They say that the endowments are in dishonest hands.
The statement noted that they agreed with the statement of the central council and Arab Orthodox, which stressed the importance of the intervention of the Palestinian and Jordanian governments, in order to exert pressure on Patriarch Theophlos to stop the deal. The statement said that the Patriarch held a deal to sell the endowment to Zionist investors in disregard to the commitments he made in the presence of legal representatives.
They noted that this stance emerged from the moral responsibility of the parliament members and for protecting the sanctities in general, and the Orthodox Christian endowment in particular.
The statement stressed the inalienable national rights of Palestinians, noting that any attempt to abandon even a small part of the land of Palestine, in favor of the Zionists, constitutes a great betrayal to the homeland and the cause of Palestinians who still resist the occupation in order to gain independence.
“ the most worst thing is a clerk to betray his people who put their trust in, so that we condemn all types of waving the rights of Palestinian people.
For its part, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch said in a statement that it did not sell any lands or properties in its ownership.
It explained that the Israeli occupation has expropriated 528 dunams that were owned by the Patriarch since 1951, and that what the Patriarch did is to save its financial rights in order to maintain its presence to serve and protect its lands, property and religious sanctuaries in the Old City and the 67 areas that are threatened daily by Israeli occupation measures.
The Patriarchate said that “the land was acquired in 1951 under unfair contracts that gave Israel full ownership rights , leaving to the Patriarchate only a financial rights that are determined and approved by the President of the Israeli High Court of Justice.”
Jordanian members of Parliament called on bot Jordanian and Palestinian governments to exert pressure, on the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem, to cancel the sale of more than 500 dunams of the Orthodox Christian endowment, in occupied Jerusalem, to the Israeli occupation municipality.
About 40 Jordanian members have criticized, according to Al Ray, the stance of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, calling, in a statement, to stop its policy of underestimating the Christian endowentment in Jerusalem. They say that the endowments are in dishonest hands.
The statement noted that they agreed with the statement of the central council and Arab Orthodox, which stressed the importance of the intervention of the Palestinian and Jordanian governments, in order to exert pressure on Patriarch Theophlos to stop the deal. The statement said that the Patriarch held a deal to sell the endowment to Zionist investors in disregard to the commitments he made in the presence of legal representatives.
They noted that this stance emerged from the moral responsibility of the parliament members and for protecting the sanctities in general, and the Orthodox Christian endowment in particular.
The statement stressed the inalienable national rights of Palestinians, noting that any attempt to abandon even a small part of the land of Palestine, in favor of the Zionists, constitutes a great betrayal to the homeland and the cause of Palestinians who still resist the occupation in order to gain independence.
“ the most worst thing is a clerk to betray his people who put their trust in, so that we condemn all types of waving the rights of Palestinian people.
For its part, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch said in a statement that it did not sell any lands or properties in its ownership.
It explained that the Israeli occupation has expropriated 528 dunams that were owned by the Patriarch since 1951, and that what the Patriarch did is to save its financial rights in order to maintain its presence to serve and protect its lands, property and religious sanctuaries in the Old City and the 67 areas that are threatened daily by Israeli occupation measures.
The Patriarchate said that “the land was acquired in 1951 under unfair contracts that gave Israel full ownership rights , leaving to the Patriarchate only a financial rights that are determined and approved by the President of the Israeli High Court of Justice.”
7 may 2017
Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church Atallah Hanna announced on Sunday that he will start a hunger strike on Monday in solidarity with the striking prisoners in Israeli jails.
Archbishop Hanna said in a statement that the prisoners' issue is the issue of all Palestinian people, stressing his support for the prisoners' just demands.
Archbishop Hanna added, "We belong to this land and we belong to this people who fights for freedom. We will always remain biased to the just Palestinian cause."
Archbishop Hanna said in a statement that the prisoners' issue is the issue of all Palestinian people, stressing his support for the prisoners' just demands.
Archbishop Hanna added, "We belong to this land and we belong to this people who fights for freedom. We will always remain biased to the just Palestinian cause."
6 may 2017
Christian residents of the Gaza Strip recently spoke about their daily life to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, during a surprise visit to the coastal enclave.
During his visit to the Gaza Strip, the Archbishop sat with leaders of the Christian community in Gaza, and listened to their life experience under the rule of the Islamic Palestinian movement Hamas.
Philip Tarazi, one of the Gaza Christians who were selected to meet with the Archbishop Justin Welby, described the life in Gaza as “smooth.”
However, he did complain of the 11-year-old Israeli siege, which pushed hundreds of Christians to escape the “beautiful” city, according to Days of Palestine.
Under the 11-year-old Israeli siege on Gaza, the Israeli occupation carried out three major offensives that claimed the lives of more than 4,000 Gaza residents, including Christians.
During the Israeli offensives, Christians opened their churches and other facilities for their Muslim neighbors to stay at, after their houses had been destroyed. They also opened their private clinics to treat the wounded.
Justin also visited Gaza War Cemetery, where British and imperial troops who were killed in Gaza in 1917 are buried. He laid a wreath at the cemetery, where 3,691 British troops are laying.
Israeli and pro-Israeli media has reportedly faked news reports several time to give the appearance that Gaza Christians are persecuted under Hamas rule in order to cover up its crimes, as well as the siege, which reduced the Christian community in Gaza from 3,000 to about 1,300.
Speaking with Christians leaders and members of the Christian community in Gaza, they condemned the Israeli propaganda machine, accusing it of using them to justify its crimes against humanity.
During his visit to the Gaza Strip, the Archbishop sat with leaders of the Christian community in Gaza, and listened to their life experience under the rule of the Islamic Palestinian movement Hamas.
Philip Tarazi, one of the Gaza Christians who were selected to meet with the Archbishop Justin Welby, described the life in Gaza as “smooth.”
However, he did complain of the 11-year-old Israeli siege, which pushed hundreds of Christians to escape the “beautiful” city, according to Days of Palestine.
Under the 11-year-old Israeli siege on Gaza, the Israeli occupation carried out three major offensives that claimed the lives of more than 4,000 Gaza residents, including Christians.
During the Israeli offensives, Christians opened their churches and other facilities for their Muslim neighbors to stay at, after their houses had been destroyed. They also opened their private clinics to treat the wounded.
Justin also visited Gaza War Cemetery, where British and imperial troops who were killed in Gaza in 1917 are buried. He laid a wreath at the cemetery, where 3,691 British troops are laying.
Israeli and pro-Israeli media has reportedly faked news reports several time to give the appearance that Gaza Christians are persecuted under Hamas rule in order to cover up its crimes, as well as the siege, which reduced the Christian community in Gaza from 3,000 to about 1,300.
Speaking with Christians leaders and members of the Christian community in Gaza, they condemned the Israeli propaganda machine, accusing it of using them to justify its crimes against humanity.
17 apr 2017
Thousands of Christian followers of the Orthodox and Catholic faiths from all over the world, gathering at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City, celebrated Easter Holy Saturday with the emergence of the holy fire from the location of the tomb believed to be that of Jesus Christ.
However, according to WAFA, only a few privileged Palestinian Christians, mainly those living in East Jerusalem or Israel, were able to attend the celebrations.
Thousands of their brethren from the locked West Bank and Gaza Strip, only few kilometers away from Jerusalem, were not able to attend them.
Israel does not allow Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to reach the wall-in East Jerusalem without special army issued permits.
As with every year, Israel issued a number of permits for West Bank and Gaza Christians to enter Jerusalem during Easter. But, then, it imposed a week-long closure on the occupied territories for the Jewish Passover holiday, which coincided with Easter celebrations, thus deeming all permits void for this week.
However, according to WAFA, only a few privileged Palestinian Christians, mainly those living in East Jerusalem or Israel, were able to attend the celebrations.
Thousands of their brethren from the locked West Bank and Gaza Strip, only few kilometers away from Jerusalem, were not able to attend them.
Israel does not allow Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to reach the wall-in East Jerusalem without special army issued permits.
As with every year, Israel issued a number of permits for West Bank and Gaza Christians to enter Jerusalem during Easter. But, then, it imposed a week-long closure on the occupied territories for the Jewish Passover holiday, which coincided with Easter celebrations, thus deeming all permits void for this week.
At the same time, Israeli police set up blockades around the Old City of Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, preventing thousands of pilgrims from reaching their holy sites.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III emerged from the recently renovated tomb, known as the Edicule, with lit candle sticks to indicate the appearance of what Christians of all sects call the holy light.
Once the patriarch has emerged from the tomb, the thousands waiting since the morning hours and carrying candles lit them from the holy fire. The light is then taken to churches around the country and the world.
Christians marked, on Friday, the annual Easter Good Friday procession with thousands of pilgrims from all over the world congregating on Jerusalem to walk the path Jesus Christ had walked to his crucifixion.
Easter will be celebrated on Sunday.
Orthodox and Catholic churches mark Easter, this year, at the same time when, usually, each mark it a different time from the other.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III emerged from the recently renovated tomb, known as the Edicule, with lit candle sticks to indicate the appearance of what Christians of all sects call the holy light.
Once the patriarch has emerged from the tomb, the thousands waiting since the morning hours and carrying candles lit them from the holy fire. The light is then taken to churches around the country and the world.
Christians marked, on Friday, the annual Easter Good Friday procession with thousands of pilgrims from all over the world congregating on Jerusalem to walk the path Jesus Christ had walked to his crucifixion.
Easter will be celebrated on Sunday.
Orthodox and Catholic churches mark Easter, this year, at the same time when, usually, each mark it a different time from the other.
5 feb 2017
The Moroccan Commission to Support the Nation’s Causes slammed the Palestinian Authority (PA), chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, for handing over the al-Mascoubiya Church to the Russians.
PA police used teargas to disband hundreds of protesters in al-Sabta area and cordoned off the environs of the al-Mascoubiya church, after they declared it a closed military zone. Several protesters were also arrested on claims of inciting riots.
The decision by the PA to hand over a church built on Palestinian land to an envoy of the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Occupied Jerusalem sparked widespread furor among the Muslim and Christian communities across the occupied Palestinian territories and overseas.
The forfeited church covers an area of 73 dunums of Islamic land in the southern occupied West Bank province of al-Khalil. It dates back to hundreds of years ago and has long been known as part of endowments offered by Tamim Ibn Aws al-Dari, one of the companions of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad.
The Moroccan Commission expressed its concern over the move, saying there is undeniable historical proof that Prophet Muhammad tasked his companion Tamim Bin Aws al-Dari, who was among the first people who adhered to Islam in Palestine, to use the land in favor of all generations of Muslims setting up roots in the area.
“The commission expresses its firm rejection of the decision by Mahmoud Abbas to hand over an Islamic property to the Russian missionaries,” the statement further read.
The commission called on Arabs and Muslims across the world to take urgent action as regards such an “unacceptable move.”
PA police used teargas to disband hundreds of protesters in al-Sabta area and cordoned off the environs of the al-Mascoubiya church, after they declared it a closed military zone. Several protesters were also arrested on claims of inciting riots.
The decision by the PA to hand over a church built on Palestinian land to an envoy of the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Occupied Jerusalem sparked widespread furor among the Muslim and Christian communities across the occupied Palestinian territories and overseas.
The forfeited church covers an area of 73 dunums of Islamic land in the southern occupied West Bank province of al-Khalil. It dates back to hundreds of years ago and has long been known as part of endowments offered by Tamim Ibn Aws al-Dari, one of the companions of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad.
The Moroccan Commission expressed its concern over the move, saying there is undeniable historical proof that Prophet Muhammad tasked his companion Tamim Bin Aws al-Dari, who was among the first people who adhered to Islam in Palestine, to use the land in favor of all generations of Muslims setting up roots in the area.
“The commission expresses its firm rejection of the decision by Mahmoud Abbas to hand over an Islamic property to the Russian missionaries,” the statement further read.
The commission called on Arabs and Muslims across the world to take urgent action as regards such an “unacceptable move.”
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