20 july 2020
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The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Monday stole an ancient Christian artifact from Tuqu town near Bethlehem. video
Tuqu mayor Tayseer Abu Mufreh said that the stolen object is a big baptismal font dating back to the 6th century AD. Abu Mufreh added that the IOF stormed his house near the municipality headquarters, detained all members of his family and stole the font, which he was keeping temporarily near the house as a prelude to transferring it to a museum. |
7 july 2020
In an open letter, Christian clergy from the Bethlehem area today warned of catastrophic results to their community if Israel annexes land in their cities.
“We are writing this letter in our capacity as spiritual leaders of various Christian communities in the Bethlehem Area. The Israeli Government is planning to annex more occupied Palestinian land,” they said, adding, “For Palestine, Bethlehem and particularly for its Christian population, this new process of annexation will be particularly catastrophic.”
Soon after the occupation of 1967 Israel annexed over 20,000 dunums of land in the northern parts of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, for the construction of illegal colonial settlements, they said. “This severely hindered our capacity to grow as communities. They have already annexed one of the most important Christian religious sites of Bethlehem, the Mar Elias Monastery, and separated Bethlehem from Jerusalem for the first time in the two-thousand years of Christian history in Holy Land.”
The Christian clergy added: “One of the only areas left for our expansion, as well as for agriculture and simply for families to enjoy nature, are the valleys of Cremisan and Makhrour, both located to the west of our urban areas and are under the current threat of annexation by Israeli authorities. This will affect the private property of hundreds of our parishioners. In the Cremisan Valley we also conduct spiritual activities.
There is a school run by Salesian Nuns in addition to a historic monastery. The western Bethlehem countryside is also in danger, where some of our parishioners have been farming for generations, and this includes the Tent of Nations in Nahhalin. At the same time, and in accordance to the original maps of the US Plan, there are threats against the eastern part of Bethlehem, including the Ush Ughrab area of Beit Sahour, where there has been plans for years to build a children hospital to serve the local community.”
“Our biggest concern is that the annexation of those areas will push more people to emigrate,” they warned. “Bethlehem, surrounded by walls and settlements, already feels like an open prison. Annexation means the prison becomes even smaller, with no hopes for a better future.”
“This is land theft! We are talking about land that is largely privately owned and that our families have owned, inherited and farmed for hundreds of years.”
The clergy said that most of their parishioners have lost hope in earthly powers. “They feel hopeless and helpless, evident in the words a parishioner this month as he watched his land devoured by Israeli bulldozers preparing the way for more wall expansion: 'It is devastating. You see bulldozers destroying your land and you can do nothing. No one is stopping them’.”
Expressing frustration at their situation, the Christian clergy said, “Our parishioners no longer believe that anyone will stand courageously for justice and peace and stop this tremendous injustice that is taking place in front of your eyes. The human rights of Palestinians have been violated for decades. Hope is a pillar of our faith, yet is being challenged due to the actions of those who claim to care about the Christians in the Middle East. In practice, annexation could be the final straw when it comes to a viable Christian presence in Palestine, as well as the national aspirations to live in freedom, independence, dignity and equality in our homeland in accordance with international law.
“Nobody can claim that they did not know the consequences of annexation for Palestine in general and Bethlehem in particular. We feel the burden of history upon our shoulders to keep the Christian presence in the land where it all started. As we continue to put our hope and trust in God, we call upon the leaders of this world to stop this severe injustice. We remain committed to peace with justice, and find strength in the support of many around the world, specially the support of many churches. We hope that the world takes decisive and concrete actions to stop this injustice and provide the conditions to restore hope for a future of justice and peace that this land deserves.”
The open letter was signed by Fr. Yacoub Abu Sada – 'The Theotokos’ Melkite Church Bethlehem, Fr. Issa Musleh – Forefathers Greek Orthodox Church Beit Sahour, Fr. Hanna Salem – Catholic Church of the Annunciation Beit Jala, Fr. Bolous Al Alam – St. Mary Greek Orthodox Church Beit Jala, Rev. Ashraf Tannous – The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation Beit Jala, Fr. Suheil Fakhouri – Our Lady of the Shepherds Melkite Church Beit Sahour, Rev. Munther Isaac – The Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church Bethlehem and The Evangelical Lutheran Church Beit Sahour.
“We are writing this letter in our capacity as spiritual leaders of various Christian communities in the Bethlehem Area. The Israeli Government is planning to annex more occupied Palestinian land,” they said, adding, “For Palestine, Bethlehem and particularly for its Christian population, this new process of annexation will be particularly catastrophic.”
Soon after the occupation of 1967 Israel annexed over 20,000 dunums of land in the northern parts of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, for the construction of illegal colonial settlements, they said. “This severely hindered our capacity to grow as communities. They have already annexed one of the most important Christian religious sites of Bethlehem, the Mar Elias Monastery, and separated Bethlehem from Jerusalem for the first time in the two-thousand years of Christian history in Holy Land.”
The Christian clergy added: “One of the only areas left for our expansion, as well as for agriculture and simply for families to enjoy nature, are the valleys of Cremisan and Makhrour, both located to the west of our urban areas and are under the current threat of annexation by Israeli authorities. This will affect the private property of hundreds of our parishioners. In the Cremisan Valley we also conduct spiritual activities.
There is a school run by Salesian Nuns in addition to a historic monastery. The western Bethlehem countryside is also in danger, where some of our parishioners have been farming for generations, and this includes the Tent of Nations in Nahhalin. At the same time, and in accordance to the original maps of the US Plan, there are threats against the eastern part of Bethlehem, including the Ush Ughrab area of Beit Sahour, where there has been plans for years to build a children hospital to serve the local community.”
“Our biggest concern is that the annexation of those areas will push more people to emigrate,” they warned. “Bethlehem, surrounded by walls and settlements, already feels like an open prison. Annexation means the prison becomes even smaller, with no hopes for a better future.”
“This is land theft! We are talking about land that is largely privately owned and that our families have owned, inherited and farmed for hundreds of years.”
The clergy said that most of their parishioners have lost hope in earthly powers. “They feel hopeless and helpless, evident in the words a parishioner this month as he watched his land devoured by Israeli bulldozers preparing the way for more wall expansion: 'It is devastating. You see bulldozers destroying your land and you can do nothing. No one is stopping them’.”
Expressing frustration at their situation, the Christian clergy said, “Our parishioners no longer believe that anyone will stand courageously for justice and peace and stop this tremendous injustice that is taking place in front of your eyes. The human rights of Palestinians have been violated for decades. Hope is a pillar of our faith, yet is being challenged due to the actions of those who claim to care about the Christians in the Middle East. In practice, annexation could be the final straw when it comes to a viable Christian presence in Palestine, as well as the national aspirations to live in freedom, independence, dignity and equality in our homeland in accordance with international law.
“Nobody can claim that they did not know the consequences of annexation for Palestine in general and Bethlehem in particular. We feel the burden of history upon our shoulders to keep the Christian presence in the land where it all started. As we continue to put our hope and trust in God, we call upon the leaders of this world to stop this severe injustice. We remain committed to peace with justice, and find strength in the support of many around the world, specially the support of many churches. We hope that the world takes decisive and concrete actions to stop this injustice and provide the conditions to restore hope for a future of justice and peace that this land deserves.”
The open letter was signed by Fr. Yacoub Abu Sada – 'The Theotokos’ Melkite Church Bethlehem, Fr. Issa Musleh – Forefathers Greek Orthodox Church Beit Sahour, Fr. Hanna Salem – Catholic Church of the Annunciation Beit Jala, Fr. Bolous Al Alam – St. Mary Greek Orthodox Church Beit Jala, Rev. Ashraf Tannous – The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation Beit Jala, Fr. Suheil Fakhouri – Our Lady of the Shepherds Melkite Church Beit Sahour, Rev. Munther Isaac – The Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church Bethlehem and The Evangelical Lutheran Church Beit Sahour.
Jaffa Gate property of the Greek Orthodox Church sought after by Jewish settlement organizations
Church leaders in Jerusalem said today in a joint statement that an Israeli court’s ruling on property of the Greek Orthodox Church at Jaffa Gate of the occupied old city of Jerusalem threatens Christian presence in the holy city.“
We, the Heads of the Churches and Christian Communities in Jerusalem, stand united in our commitment to safeguard the historical Status Quo of the Holy Sites and rights of the Churches which are universally recognized,” said the church leaders.
“The case of Jaffa Gate threatens this Status Quo. We are concerned by the recent judgment of the District Court of Jerusalem, which dismissed evidence demonstrating the Greek Orthodox Church case. We strongly support the efforts of the Greek Orthodox Church in their plea for justice.”
The Greek Orthodox Church is battling in court Jewish settlement organizations seeking to take over its Jaffa Gate property under the pretext of ownership, a claim strongly contested by the church.
“We don't see this case as a mere property dispute. We see the undertaking of radical groups to take control of properties at Jaffa Gate as a systematic attempt to undermine the integrity of the Holy City, to obstruct the Christian pilgrim route and to weaken the Christian presence in Jerusalem,” said the 13 church leaders.
They called on the Israeli government “to act in order to safeguard the integrity of the Christian heritage and patrimony in the Old City, as well as the Holy Sites and the rights of the residents of the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem.”
“These are places which over two billion Christians around the world look at as the very heart of their faith; which millions of Christian pilgrims visit each year; and in which the local Christians live out their faith,” they said.
The statement was signed by Patriarch Theophilos Ill, Greek Orthodox, Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate, Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land, Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem, Archbishop Gabriel Daho, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate, Archbishop Yaser AL-Ayash, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate, Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate, 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, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate, and Rt Rev. Joseph Nerses Zabarian, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate.
Church leaders in Jerusalem said today in a joint statement that an Israeli court’s ruling on property of the Greek Orthodox Church at Jaffa Gate of the occupied old city of Jerusalem threatens Christian presence in the holy city.“
We, the Heads of the Churches and Christian Communities in Jerusalem, stand united in our commitment to safeguard the historical Status Quo of the Holy Sites and rights of the Churches which are universally recognized,” said the church leaders.
“The case of Jaffa Gate threatens this Status Quo. We are concerned by the recent judgment of the District Court of Jerusalem, which dismissed evidence demonstrating the Greek Orthodox Church case. We strongly support the efforts of the Greek Orthodox Church in their plea for justice.”
The Greek Orthodox Church is battling in court Jewish settlement organizations seeking to take over its Jaffa Gate property under the pretext of ownership, a claim strongly contested by the church.
“We don't see this case as a mere property dispute. We see the undertaking of radical groups to take control of properties at Jaffa Gate as a systematic attempt to undermine the integrity of the Holy City, to obstruct the Christian pilgrim route and to weaken the Christian presence in Jerusalem,” said the 13 church leaders.
They called on the Israeli government “to act in order to safeguard the integrity of the Christian heritage and patrimony in the Old City, as well as the Holy Sites and the rights of the residents of the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem.”
“These are places which over two billion Christians around the world look at as the very heart of their faith; which millions of Christian pilgrims visit each year; and in which the local Christians live out their faith,” they said.
The statement was signed by Patriarch Theophilos Ill, Greek Orthodox, Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate, Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land, Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem, Archbishop Gabriel Daho, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate, Archbishop Yaser AL-Ayash, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate, Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate, 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, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate, and Rt Rev. Joseph Nerses Zabarian, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate.
2 july 2020
Dr. Mike Evans meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Dr. Mike Evans, a prominent Evangelical figure, praises U.S. administration for its support of Israel asserting sovereignty in the West Bank, but warns community will turn its back on the president come November if he forfeits commitment to plans
Following the delayed start to Israel's plans to annex territory in the West Bank, prominent evangelical leaders in the U.S. implored President Donald Trump to go through with the intuitive – with some warning that withholding will jeopardize his chances of reelection in November.
Dr. Mike Evans, a leading figure within the Evangelical community, told Ynet that Trump's reelection is dependent on "our vote, the Evangelical vote."
"Our support is crucial, and he cannot win it without us," said Evans. "We are 100% supportive of applying Israeli sovereignty to the region. Our support of this did not begin with Trump, but with our Bible, because we believe that God decided to apply sovereignty thousands of years ago and told it to the Jewish people's prophets."
Evans hinted that several of Trump's advisors are advising him to withhold on annexation.
"I believe that any aide advising the president to withdraw his support on application of sovereignty could jeopardize the president's chances of winning the elections," he said.
"The worst thing the president can do during an election is announce his rejection of recognizing the land of the Bible, since all Evangelicals are united behind the Bible where it is stated that who blesses Israel – God blesses him. We will push any advisor urging him to refrain from supporting the application of sovereignty out of the White House."
Evans is currently in U.S. and this week met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to award him a medal for his support of Israel, and the two discussed a way to advance the annexation plans.
Pompeo, who himself is also a prominent figure within the Evangelical community, is a supporter of annexation.
"I believe that Trump will give Netanyahu the green light to go through with annexation, since he has an election in four months," Evans said, adding that the Evangelical camp supports the plan for Israel to annex some 30% of the West Bank.
"If you forfeit the lands of the Bible, that will be an issue for the president. President Trump is a very brave man who cannot be bought, he never kneels.
The president understands the Bible is not illegal, and we want him to say that. He would not have won the last election without us. He has done more than we wanted in the last three and a half years. We believe he will not change. When he is under pressure, it only gives him more energy."
Asked about the possibility that Israel will refuse a request by the president to implement annexation in steps, Evans said he did not believe for a second that "Trump will resist application of sovereignty."
"If I were Netanyahu, I would have pushed for a declaration of full sovereignty before the elections. I would not want to wake up with a Democrat president who will bring hell to Israel."
Dr. Mike Evans, a prominent Evangelical figure, praises U.S. administration for its support of Israel asserting sovereignty in the West Bank, but warns community will turn its back on the president come November if he forfeits commitment to plans
Following the delayed start to Israel's plans to annex territory in the West Bank, prominent evangelical leaders in the U.S. implored President Donald Trump to go through with the intuitive – with some warning that withholding will jeopardize his chances of reelection in November.
Dr. Mike Evans, a leading figure within the Evangelical community, told Ynet that Trump's reelection is dependent on "our vote, the Evangelical vote."
"Our support is crucial, and he cannot win it without us," said Evans. "We are 100% supportive of applying Israeli sovereignty to the region. Our support of this did not begin with Trump, but with our Bible, because we believe that God decided to apply sovereignty thousands of years ago and told it to the Jewish people's prophets."
Evans hinted that several of Trump's advisors are advising him to withhold on annexation.
"I believe that any aide advising the president to withdraw his support on application of sovereignty could jeopardize the president's chances of winning the elections," he said.
"The worst thing the president can do during an election is announce his rejection of recognizing the land of the Bible, since all Evangelicals are united behind the Bible where it is stated that who blesses Israel – God blesses him. We will push any advisor urging him to refrain from supporting the application of sovereignty out of the White House."
Evans is currently in U.S. and this week met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to award him a medal for his support of Israel, and the two discussed a way to advance the annexation plans.
Pompeo, who himself is also a prominent figure within the Evangelical community, is a supporter of annexation.
"I believe that Trump will give Netanyahu the green light to go through with annexation, since he has an election in four months," Evans said, adding that the Evangelical camp supports the plan for Israel to annex some 30% of the West Bank.
"If you forfeit the lands of the Bible, that will be an issue for the president. President Trump is a very brave man who cannot be bought, he never kneels.
The president understands the Bible is not illegal, and we want him to say that. He would not have won the last election without us. He has done more than we wanted in the last three and a half years. We believe he will not change. When he is under pressure, it only gives him more energy."
Asked about the possibility that Israel will refuse a request by the president to implement annexation in steps, Evans said he did not believe for a second that "Trump will resist application of sovereignty."
"If I were Netanyahu, I would have pushed for a declaration of full sovereignty before the elections. I would not want to wake up with a Democrat president who will bring hell to Israel."
