28 mar 2020
In light of the difficult economic situation and closure of shops as a result of the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease, Jerusalem’s Orthodox Church today joined the city's Islamic Waqf in exempting their Old City's Palestinian tenants from rent for the year 2020.
“Following the noble initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, Hashemite Custodian of the Islamic and Christian Holy Sites in the Holy Land, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, today exempted all tenants of properties of the Orthodox Church within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem from rent for the year 2020,” said a statement by the church. “
This action is taken in support of the diverse community of Jerusalem, and to enhance the steadfastness of its residents in light of the exceptional circumstances of the Coronavirus epidemic.”
Patriarch Theophilos said that the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem wants to support the local community materially and morally to face the difficulties associated with the Coronavirus epidemic, adding that the doors of the Patriarchate are open to every person who needs help in facing the current circumstances, and called on everyone to adhere to the instructions of the authorities regarding social distancing, home isolation and taking the necessary measures to overcome the crisis.
“His Beatitude prayed that Almighty God would lift the epidemic and send down His mercy upon his creation,” it said.
Father Issa Musleh, spokesperson for the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said that the patriarch is working to increase the effectiveness of the Patriarchate’s institutions in facing the epidemic of the Coronavirus, adding that in addition to this most recent step, the Patriarchate has led a campaign to support the residents of the Governorate of Bethlehem through the distribution of 1,200 food parcels, and has donated 50,000 Jordanian dinars (app. $70,000) to the Jordanian Ministry of Health.
“These are a matter of social responsibility, drawing on the Church’s commitment to serve the community, and to provide everything possible in support of people in these difficult circumstances,” he said.
King Abdullah last week instructed the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, which is part of the Jordanian Ministry of Religious Affairs, to exempt its Jerusalem Old City tenants from rent for this year to help them overcome corona’s financial difficulties.
The Palestinian Authority thanked Jordan and the Orthodox Church for this initiative in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Ramzi Khoury, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, said in a statement that this move will help Palestinians in Jerusalem remain steadfast in their city, the capital of the State of Palestine, in these dire economic conditions resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.
He clarified that the exemption decision affects homes and shops in the old city “to enable the Palestinian citizens to overcome the difficult financial effects and face the harsh (Israeli) occupation measures against them aimed at emptying the occupied capital of its (Palestinian) citizens.”
“Following the noble initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, Hashemite Custodian of the Islamic and Christian Holy Sites in the Holy Land, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, today exempted all tenants of properties of the Orthodox Church within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem from rent for the year 2020,” said a statement by the church. “
This action is taken in support of the diverse community of Jerusalem, and to enhance the steadfastness of its residents in light of the exceptional circumstances of the Coronavirus epidemic.”
Patriarch Theophilos said that the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem wants to support the local community materially and morally to face the difficulties associated with the Coronavirus epidemic, adding that the doors of the Patriarchate are open to every person who needs help in facing the current circumstances, and called on everyone to adhere to the instructions of the authorities regarding social distancing, home isolation and taking the necessary measures to overcome the crisis.
“His Beatitude prayed that Almighty God would lift the epidemic and send down His mercy upon his creation,” it said.
Father Issa Musleh, spokesperson for the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said that the patriarch is working to increase the effectiveness of the Patriarchate’s institutions in facing the epidemic of the Coronavirus, adding that in addition to this most recent step, the Patriarchate has led a campaign to support the residents of the Governorate of Bethlehem through the distribution of 1,200 food parcels, and has donated 50,000 Jordanian dinars (app. $70,000) to the Jordanian Ministry of Health.
“These are a matter of social responsibility, drawing on the Church’s commitment to serve the community, and to provide everything possible in support of people in these difficult circumstances,” he said.
King Abdullah last week instructed the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, which is part of the Jordanian Ministry of Religious Affairs, to exempt its Jerusalem Old City tenants from rent for this year to help them overcome corona’s financial difficulties.
The Palestinian Authority thanked Jordan and the Orthodox Church for this initiative in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Ramzi Khoury, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, said in a statement that this move will help Palestinians in Jerusalem remain steadfast in their city, the capital of the State of Palestine, in these dire economic conditions resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.
He clarified that the exemption decision affects homes and shops in the old city “to enable the Palestinian citizens to overcome the difficult financial effects and face the harsh (Israeli) occupation measures against them aimed at emptying the occupied capital of its (Palestinian) citizens.”
20 feb 2020
Archbishop of Sebastia Diocese Of the Greek Orthodox Church in occupied Jerusalem, Attallah Hanna, welcomed a delegation of the World Council of Churches at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the adjacent cathedral, and urged them, along with all churches, to denounce the so-called “Deal of the Century” and the ongoing historical injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people in their occupied homeland.
Archbishop Hanna called on the World Council of Churches to take clear Christian standards, based on the holy bible, humanity, morality, and dignity, to stand firm against this so-called deal, and not to surrender to pressure from the Zionist lobby which is acting against basic the principles of justice and freedom.
“What is the benefit of having a World Council of Churches if it becomes a political organization serving certain interests against the other, and if it continues to be hesitant about taking obvious stances against occupation, oppression, and injustice targeting the Palestinian people,” Archbishop Hanna said, “We are calling for clear positions, for churches around the world to work on protecting human rights, and on helping our people live in their own sovereign independent state.”
“Do not listen to those who keep talking about balanced stances, because for us, there is no space here for such a position while we continue to see people getting killed, targeted, oppressed and made homeless, in addition to being treated as strangers in their own homeland,” he added.
“We call on the World Council of Churches to act, as we all expect, on defending dignity, justice, and humanity in Palestine, in Syria, in Iraq as well as even part of the world,” Archbishop Hanna concluded.
Archbishop Hanna called on the World Council of Churches to take clear Christian standards, based on the holy bible, humanity, morality, and dignity, to stand firm against this so-called deal, and not to surrender to pressure from the Zionist lobby which is acting against basic the principles of justice and freedom.
“What is the benefit of having a World Council of Churches if it becomes a political organization serving certain interests against the other, and if it continues to be hesitant about taking obvious stances against occupation, oppression, and injustice targeting the Palestinian people,” Archbishop Hanna said, “We are calling for clear positions, for churches around the world to work on protecting human rights, and on helping our people live in their own sovereign independent state.”
“Do not listen to those who keep talking about balanced stances, because for us, there is no space here for such a position while we continue to see people getting killed, targeted, oppressed and made homeless, in addition to being treated as strangers in their own homeland,” he added.
“We call on the World Council of Churches to act, as we all expect, on defending dignity, justice, and humanity in Palestine, in Syria, in Iraq as well as even part of the world,” Archbishop Hanna concluded.
31 jan 2020
The American declaration on peace in the Middle East made on 28/1/020
“Peace, peace, they say when there is no peace” (Jeremiah: 6:14)
Kairos Palestine: The position announced by the U.S. administration regarding what they termed as the ‘deal of the century’ was, in fact, an insult to history, humanity, the Palestinian people, and the American dignity itself.
The American-Israeli proposal is premised on consolidating Israeli control over all of Palestine’s land, making sure that the Palestinian people are subjected to this control, in return for economic promises that are closer to a deal for buying the people and their spirit with money.
This proposal seeks to legitimize the Israeli occupation and revoke the history of the Palestinian people and their legitimate inalienable rights, particularly the right of return for the Palestinian refugees and the right to self-determination in an attempt to eliminate the Palestinian question completely and definitively.
Jerusalem, the core of the conflict, cannot be declared by any human authority as being solely the capital of Israel. It is the capital of God and humankind as a whole, it is the capital for its Palestinian population as well. There can be no solution if that solution did not clearly reiterate the Palestinian right to the city.
Through this declaration, the U.S. has proclaimed itself clearly as a party to the conflict rather than a peace broker, as it considered this deal, that has no reference to the international law or the UN resolutions, as the final offer to the Palestinians holding them fully responsible, should they reject it, for all the ensuing repercussions.
Israel and the U.S. are yet to listen to the voice of God commanding them, here in the Holy Land and in the world as a whole: do not steal, do not kill, in order to stop killing the Palestinian people and stealing away their lands.
Israel and the U.S. are yet to listen to God’s voice, to the voice of conscience, and realize the truth that cannot be subdued: the Palestinian people are alive, consistently demanding their rights over the past hundred years till this date. The Palestinian people will continue to demand their rights until they obtain them. The only path to peace is that of full equality between the two peoples.
Israel peace is preconditioned by Palestinian peace, in fact, Israeli mere survival is based on the just peace for Palestinians. Otherwise, Israel, despite all its power, will live in fear and anticipation of an unknown future. As we already stated in the Kairos document ‘Moment of Truth’, “our and their future are but one. Either a cycle of violence whereby we all perish, or peace whereby we all thrive.”
In his declaration on Tuesday 28/1/2020, President Trump did not offer anything towards this equality but rather consolidated further Israeli hegemony and Palestinians subjugation to it. This means that the conflict will continue, bloodshed will continue, hatred and inhumane treatment will persist.
The money offered to Palestinians is but a slap of insult to every Palestinian and to humanity as a whole, because it is reminiscent of the age of slavery when human beings were being traded, bought and sold for money. Jerusalem is not a good for sale, Palestinians are not for sale.
Peace-making requires Mr. Trump and Israel’s leadership to respect their own humanity, and respect the humanity of Palestinian people, dealing with them on the basis of shared humanity.
It is useless to accuse Palestinians of terrorism in an attempt to silence their own conscience and cover up for the terrorism that they are practicing against Palestinians and in dealing with them.
Finally, peace-making requires the respect of international legitimacy and the implementation of international resolutions taken in the context of this conflict.
It requires the international community to take a firm stance towards the implementation of its decisions as was and is the case with all the other peoples in the region.
The time has come for anyone with the cause of peace in his heart and the desire to ensure security and stability in the Middle East to open his eyes to the truth rather than be disillusioned by military of financial power and strength. Peace is made by people who want peace, who acknowledge that the other party is a human being with equal rights and dignity that was granted by God to all.
Today we ask churches and Christians across the globe to stand up in the face of injustice against the Palestinian people and demand their countries to reject categorically the so-called ‘deal of the century’, reiterating that neither peace nor justice can prevail unless justice is fulfilled, occupation is ended, and Palestinians are granted their full rights.
—-
About Kairos Palestine:
We are a Christian Palestinian movement, born out of the Kairos Document, which advocates for ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just solution to the conflict.
The Kairos Document is the word of Christian Palestinians to the world about what is happening in Palestine.
“Our word is a cry of hope, with love, prayer and faith in God. We address it first of all to ourselves and then to all the churches and Christians in the world, asking them to stand against injustice and apartheid, urging them to work for a just peace.”
We proclaim our word based on our Christian faith and our sense of Palestinian belonging – a word of faith, hope, and love.
We declare that the military occupation of Palestinian land constitutes a sin against God and humanity. Any theology that legitimizes the occupation and justifies crimes perpetrated against the Palestinian people lies far from Christian teachings.
“Peace, peace, they say when there is no peace” (Jeremiah: 6:14)
Kairos Palestine: The position announced by the U.S. administration regarding what they termed as the ‘deal of the century’ was, in fact, an insult to history, humanity, the Palestinian people, and the American dignity itself.
The American-Israeli proposal is premised on consolidating Israeli control over all of Palestine’s land, making sure that the Palestinian people are subjected to this control, in return for economic promises that are closer to a deal for buying the people and their spirit with money.
This proposal seeks to legitimize the Israeli occupation and revoke the history of the Palestinian people and their legitimate inalienable rights, particularly the right of return for the Palestinian refugees and the right to self-determination in an attempt to eliminate the Palestinian question completely and definitively.
Jerusalem, the core of the conflict, cannot be declared by any human authority as being solely the capital of Israel. It is the capital of God and humankind as a whole, it is the capital for its Palestinian population as well. There can be no solution if that solution did not clearly reiterate the Palestinian right to the city.
Through this declaration, the U.S. has proclaimed itself clearly as a party to the conflict rather than a peace broker, as it considered this deal, that has no reference to the international law or the UN resolutions, as the final offer to the Palestinians holding them fully responsible, should they reject it, for all the ensuing repercussions.
Israel and the U.S. are yet to listen to the voice of God commanding them, here in the Holy Land and in the world as a whole: do not steal, do not kill, in order to stop killing the Palestinian people and stealing away their lands.
Israel and the U.S. are yet to listen to God’s voice, to the voice of conscience, and realize the truth that cannot be subdued: the Palestinian people are alive, consistently demanding their rights over the past hundred years till this date. The Palestinian people will continue to demand their rights until they obtain them. The only path to peace is that of full equality between the two peoples.
Israel peace is preconditioned by Palestinian peace, in fact, Israeli mere survival is based on the just peace for Palestinians. Otherwise, Israel, despite all its power, will live in fear and anticipation of an unknown future. As we already stated in the Kairos document ‘Moment of Truth’, “our and their future are but one. Either a cycle of violence whereby we all perish, or peace whereby we all thrive.”
In his declaration on Tuesday 28/1/2020, President Trump did not offer anything towards this equality but rather consolidated further Israeli hegemony and Palestinians subjugation to it. This means that the conflict will continue, bloodshed will continue, hatred and inhumane treatment will persist.
The money offered to Palestinians is but a slap of insult to every Palestinian and to humanity as a whole, because it is reminiscent of the age of slavery when human beings were being traded, bought and sold for money. Jerusalem is not a good for sale, Palestinians are not for sale.
Peace-making requires Mr. Trump and Israel’s leadership to respect their own humanity, and respect the humanity of Palestinian people, dealing with them on the basis of shared humanity.
It is useless to accuse Palestinians of terrorism in an attempt to silence their own conscience and cover up for the terrorism that they are practicing against Palestinians and in dealing with them.
Finally, peace-making requires the respect of international legitimacy and the implementation of international resolutions taken in the context of this conflict.
It requires the international community to take a firm stance towards the implementation of its decisions as was and is the case with all the other peoples in the region.
The time has come for anyone with the cause of peace in his heart and the desire to ensure security and stability in the Middle East to open his eyes to the truth rather than be disillusioned by military of financial power and strength. Peace is made by people who want peace, who acknowledge that the other party is a human being with equal rights and dignity that was granted by God to all.
Today we ask churches and Christians across the globe to stand up in the face of injustice against the Palestinian people and demand their countries to reject categorically the so-called ‘deal of the century’, reiterating that neither peace nor justice can prevail unless justice is fulfilled, occupation is ended, and Palestinians are granted their full rights.
—-
About Kairos Palestine:
We are a Christian Palestinian movement, born out of the Kairos Document, which advocates for ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just solution to the conflict.
The Kairos Document is the word of Christian Palestinians to the world about what is happening in Palestine.
“Our word is a cry of hope, with love, prayer and faith in God. We address it first of all to ourselves and then to all the churches and Christians in the world, asking them to stand against injustice and apartheid, urging them to work for a just peace.”
We proclaim our word based on our Christian faith and our sense of Palestinian belonging – a word of faith, hope, and love.
We declare that the military occupation of Palestinian land constitutes a sin against God and humanity. Any theology that legitimizes the occupation and justifies crimes perpetrated against the Palestinian people lies far from Christian teachings.
30 jan 2020
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has expressed grave concern over the “Peace to Prosperity” plan for Israel and Palestine presented by the U.S. administration, this week.
“Peace can never be unilaterally imposed,” writes LWF president Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa, and LWF General Secretary Rev Dr Martin Junge, in a statement released yesterday.
“The plan ignores fundamental principles of international law and human rights conventions, as well as numerous UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions, setting a dangerous precedent for the future.”
WAFA further reports that the LWF called upon the international community to take immediate actions to reduce the suffering of the Palestinian population, and LWF member churches to support the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and the LWF World Service program in Jerusalem.
“International law, including human rights conventions, was developed as a response to the horrors of the Second World War,” said LWF General Secretary Junge. “Their purpose is to safeguard peace and security. It is deeply worrying that the ‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan undermines them.”
“Peace can never be unilaterally imposed,” writes LWF president Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa, and LWF General Secretary Rev Dr Martin Junge, in a statement released yesterday.
“The plan ignores fundamental principles of international law and human rights conventions, as well as numerous UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions, setting a dangerous precedent for the future.”
WAFA further reports that the LWF called upon the international community to take immediate actions to reduce the suffering of the Palestinian population, and LWF member churches to support the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and the LWF World Service program in Jerusalem.
“International law, including human rights conventions, was developed as a response to the horrors of the Second World War,” said LWF General Secretary Junge. “Their purpose is to safeguard peace and security. It is deeply worrying that the ‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan undermines them.”
18 jan 2020
A group of bishops from across Europe and North America have voiced their deep concerns over Israel’s occupation of Palestine, describing the grim situation in the occupied territory, Middle East Monitor reported.
“Every year we come to encounter and hear the people of the Holy Land. We are inspired by their enduring resilience and faith in a worsening situation,” announced the 15-member group in a statement.
They described that they had: “Witnessed this reality first-hand, particularly how construction of settlements and the separation wall is destroying any prospect of two states existing in peace.”
“This is painfully clear in the West Bank where our sisters and brothers are denied even basic rights including freedom of movement,” explained the group.
“In Gaza the political decisions of all sides have resulted in the creation of an open-air prison, human rights abuses and a profound humanitarian crisis,” the group added.
The delegation called on the international community to “help build a new political solution, rooted in human dignity and international law.”
“Every year we come to encounter and hear the people of the Holy Land. We are inspired by their enduring resilience and faith in a worsening situation,” announced the 15-member group in a statement.
They described that they had: “Witnessed this reality first-hand, particularly how construction of settlements and the separation wall is destroying any prospect of two states existing in peace.”
“This is painfully clear in the West Bank where our sisters and brothers are denied even basic rights including freedom of movement,” explained the group.
“In Gaza the political decisions of all sides have resulted in the creation of an open-air prison, human rights abuses and a profound humanitarian crisis,” the group added.
The delegation called on the international community to “help build a new political solution, rooted in human dignity and international law.”
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