Church leaders worldwide protest at growing threat to Christian presence in Holy Land

Ancient Church of Multiplication of Loaves at Tabgha, badly damaged in 2015 'Price Tag' arson attack. (It has been restored now).

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem/CMEP

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued this statement today:

Throughout the Holy Land, Christians have become the target of frequent and sustained attacks by fringe radical groups. Since 2012 there have been countless incidents of physical and verbal assaults against priests and other clergy, attacks on Christian churches, with holy sites regularly vandalised and desecrated, and ongoing intimidation of local Christians who simply seek to worship freely and go about their daily lives. These tactics are being used by such radical groups in a systematic attempt to drive the Christian community out of Jerusalem and other parts of the Holy Land.

We acknowledge with gratitude the declared commitment of the Israeli government to uphold a safe and secure home for Christians in the Holy Land and to preserve the Christian community as an integral part of the tapestry of the local community. As evidence of this commitment we see the government's facilitation of the visit of millions of Christian pilgrims to the holy sites of the Holy Land. It is therefore a matter of grave concern when this national commitment is betrayed by the failure of local politicians, officials and law enforcement agencies to curb the activities of radical groups who regularly intimidate local Christians, assault priests and clergy, and desecrate Holy Sites and church properties.

The principle that the spiritual and cultural character of Jerusalem's distinct and historic quarters should be protected is already recognised in Israeli law with respect to the Jewish Quarter. Yet radical groups continue to acquire strategic property in the Christian Quarter, with the aim of diminishing the Christian presence, often using underhanded dealings and intimidation tactics to evict residents from their homes, dramatically decreasing the Christian presence, and further disrupting the historic pilgrim routes between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Christian pilgrimage, in addition to being the right of all the Christians around the world, brings great benefits to Israel's economy and society. In a recent report by the University of Birmingham, it was highlighted that Christian pilgrimage and tourism contributes $3bn to the Israeli economy. The local Christian community, while small and decreasing in number, provides a disproportionate amount of educational, health and humanitarian services in communities throughout Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.

In accordance with the declared commitment to protect religious freedom by the local political authorities of Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, we are requesting an urgent dialogue with us the Church Leaders, so as to:

- Deal with the challenges presented by radical groups in Jerusalem to both the Christian community and the rule of law, so as to ensure that no citizen or institution has to live under threat of violence or intimidation.

- Begin dialogue on the creation of a special Christian cultural and heritage zone to safeguard the integrity of the Christian Quarter in Old City Jerusalem and to ensure that its unique character and heritage are preserved for the sake of well-being of the local community, our national life, and the wider world.

The US-based Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), have issued their own statement today endorsing the Church leaders in Jerusalem.

They say: 'Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) remains committed to supporting the sustainability of Christianity in the Middle East in general, and in particular to promoting a shared Jerusalem by Palestinians and Israelis.

CMEP recognises and opposes ongoing attempts to diminish the Christian presence in Israel/ Palestine. Christian communities are a vital source of the land's culture as well as stewards of sites Christians around the world call holy. As Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas, we keep in mind our siblings in the Holy Land who continue to carry the traditions in the place where our faith began.

Therefore, CMEP stands with the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem calling for urgent dialogue with political authorities in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. We strongly oppose radical groups' opposition to Christian communities, manifesting itself now in Jerusalem. CMEP promotes and advocates for the preservation of Christian heritage, especially in the Old City's Christian Quarter.'

CMEP Executive Director Mae Elise Cannon commented: "We are deeply grieved by the ongoing struggles of communities who follow Christ in the Holy Land. Their very presence is under threat and we must do everything we can to preserve the Christian presence in Jerusalem, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories."

CMEP invites US Christians to support the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches' recent statement by sharing it within their own communities. CMEP remains committed to raising the situation faced by Christian communities in the Holy Land with US policymakers as we advocate for the religious freedom of all in the region.

Israeli Foreign Ministry Lior Haiat commented: "The accusations made by Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches of the Holy Land regarding factors that threaten the presence of Christians in the land of Jesus "are baseless and distort the reality of the Christian community in Israel".

On 21 December, Fides quotes his remarks that "the Christian population in Israel, including Jerusalem, enjoys full freedom of religion and worship, is constantly growing and is part of the unique fabric of Israeli society".

He said the pronouncement of the Heads of the Churches of Jerusalem "is irritating especially when one considers their silence on the difficult situation of many Christian communities in the Middle East, which suffer discrimination and persecution".