Appeal of patriarchs and leaders of the Churches before the escalation between Israelis and Palestinians. The risk of “provoking atrocities” that prevent “peace and stability” from being achieved. Reference to the attacks that have also affected Christians. New Palestinian victim this morning in Hebron. Netanyahu wants to arm Israeli citizens.
Jerusalem () – A call for “restraint” to avoid “an increasing and senseless cycle of violence”, which can only cause “pain and suffering” in the near future. The patriarchs and referents of the Churches of Jerusalem spoke yesterday before the escalation between Israelis and Palestinians that since the beginning of the year has already caused dozens of victims and runs the risk of unleashing, according to some experts, a third intifada. “This state of affairs – Christian references observe with concern – will almost inevitably lead to committing atrocities, moving us away from the peace and stability that we all desire.”
The Christian authorities speak of a “deplorable situation” in a context of “proliferation of violence” that has resulted in the “unjustified” death of 32 Palestinians and seven Israelis in less than a month, and is destined to “self-perpetuate”. The latter were victims of the attack on the synagogue on January 27, in response to the army raid on a refugee camp in Jenin -the military target was an Islamic Jihad cell- which left nine dead and sparked guerrilla warfare and protests across the West Bank. To prevent an escalation, they call for “resolute intervention by community leaders and politicians on all sides.”
The Christian referents affirm in their message that a “political process” based on “principles of justice” is required that leads to a “lasting peace”, and that must be combined with respect for the “religious faith” of each one, beginning with the places of worship. This is a reference to the numerous episodes of intolerance in recent weeks, from the “walk” of the ultra-Orthodox minister Ben-Gvir through the esplanade of the Jerusalem mosques to the attacks and provocations suffered by the Christians themselves, such as the desecration of the Christian cemetery on Mount Zion earlier this year and last week’s attack by a group of settlers in Jerusalem’s Christian quarter, involving residents and people from other quarters. This provocation, denounced a few days ago by the Conference of Catholic Bishops, ended only with the intervention of the police that drove away the aggressors, but requires a forceful response and dissuasive sanctions to avoid a repetition, out of respect for the sacredness of the holy city. .
“We must all work together – exhort the patriarchs and leaders of the Churches in Jerusalem – to calm the current tensions and launch a political process based on consolidated principles of justice, which leads to lasting peace and prosperity for all”. The Christian leaders conclude their message by praying for the victims and injured and asking for “wisdom and prudence” from political leaders and “influential” people, so that they help “overcome violence” and “work tirelessly to reach a just solution and peaceful for the life of our beloved Holy Land”.
This morning a new victim was registered on the Palestinian front. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Nassim Abu Fouda, 26, was driving his vehicle near the Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Hebron, when a bullet fired by the Israeli army hit him full in the face. Over the weekend a 13-year-old Palestinian boy opened fire, wounding two Israelis near the old city. Meanwhile, Israeli police have cordoned off the home of the assailant who attacked the synagogue and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan for further arms liberalization to allow citizens to circulate armed. Despite the appeals of Christian leaders, these decisions seem destined to fuel violence.
