Israel Blackmailing Christians?
Debacle over sale of church lands in Jerusalem continues as Israeli authorities "blackmail" new PatriarchMay 5, 2007
Jerusalem – Ma'an – The Chair of the Christian National Coalition, Dimitri Deliani announced on Saturday that the coalition's foreign relations committee has recently pursued several contacts, aimed at supporting the position of Patriarch Theofelios III of the Roman Orthodox Church in Palestine and Jordan. The Israeli government and settlers are exerting pressure on the patriarch, aimed at forcing him to complete a deal over property in the Jaffa Gate area.
The deal was made between his predecessor, Patriarch Erinios, and private Israeli companies. Erinios was dismissed from his post when the scandal emerged that he had authorised the sale of church property in the Old City to Israeli developers.
The dismissal was followed by a national decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan, who withdrew their formal recognition of the priest, and entrusted Theofelios to replace him.
Deliani warned that "there are certain parties which work for the former patriarch, who try to trick noble people as their prey. The attempts by these parties are no more than desperate tactics behind the scenes," explained Deliani.
Deliani also stated that Israel, "who endeavour to transform Jerusalem into a purely Jewish city", still recognize the dismissed priest Erinios, and refuse to recognize the Orthodox decision to replace him.
The member of the Orthodox conference, Dr Khaleel Andraws, said: "The Orthodox Church is being subjected to a fierce campaign of blackmail by the Israeli government, and the Israeli right-wing, represented in the settlers' association, Ateret Cohanim. The Israelis refuse to recognize the elected patriarch, who is recognized by the sacred society, Greece, Jordan, Palestine, all Orthodox churches, the Pope, and the Archbishop of Canterbury."
He described Israel as "the ship of fools… who try to transform one of the oldest churches of Jerusalem into a Zionist agency for trading properties."
Jerusalem – Ma'an – The Chair of the Christian National Coalition, Dimitri Deliani announced on Saturday that the coalition's foreign relations committee has recently pursued several contacts, aimed at supporting the position of Patriarch Theofelios III of the Roman Orthodox Church in Palestine and Jordan. The Israeli government and settlers are exerting pressure on the patriarch, aimed at forcing him to complete a deal over property in the Jaffa Gate area.
The deal was made between his predecessor, Patriarch Erinios, and private Israeli companies. Erinios was dismissed from his post when the scandal emerged that he had authorised the sale of church property in the Old City to Israeli developers.
The dismissal was followed by a national decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan, who withdrew their formal recognition of the priest, and entrusted Theofelios to replace him.
Deliani warned that "there are certain parties which work for the former patriarch, who try to trick noble people as their prey. The attempts by these parties are no more than desperate tactics behind the scenes," explained Deliani.
Deliani also stated that Israel, "who endeavour to transform Jerusalem into a purely Jewish city", still recognize the dismissed priest Erinios, and refuse to recognize the Orthodox decision to replace him.
The member of the Orthodox conference, Dr Khaleel Andraws, said: "The Orthodox Church is being subjected to a fierce campaign of blackmail by the Israeli government, and the Israeli right-wing, represented in the settlers' association, Ateret Cohanim. The Israelis refuse to recognize the elected patriarch, who is recognized by the sacred society, Greece, Jordan, Palestine, all Orthodox churches, the Pope, and the Archbishop of Canterbury."
He described Israel as "the ship of fools… who try to transform one of the oldest churches of Jerusalem into a Zionist agency for trading properties."
Labels: Christians, Israel, Palestine
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 1:51 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home