“[I] call upon all the churches of the world, in the west and east, to urgently defend Palestine, the children of Palestine, and the Palestinian cause. Let our message this Christmas be to free Palestine and the Palestinian people.”
Archbishop of Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Church speaks out against Israel’s occupation of Palestine
“[I] call upon all the churches of the world, in the west and east, to urgently defend Palestine, the children of Palestine, and the Palestinian cause. Let our message this Christmas be to free Palestine and the Palestinian people.”
The Archbishop of Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Church, Atallah Hanna, has voiced his support for the Palestinian cause and has strongly condemned Israel’s occupation of Palestine and its numerous human rights abuses. Urging Christians around the world to support the Palestinian people, the Archbishop stated in an interview with MEMO in Istanbul that Palestinian Christians continue to suffer alongside Palesetinian Muslims under Israel’s colonization:
The city of Jerusalem is the city of the three Abrahamic religions…Christian and Muslim Palestinians living in Jerusalem suffer from the occupation, suffer from repression, tyranny and oppression. The occupation in Jerusalem is treating us as if we are guests and foreigners in our own city. This is the embodiment of apartheid policies.”
The Archbishop also encouraged other Christians, from both his own church as well as other denominations across the west, to help voice their support for the Palestinian cause. With the Christmas holidays already upon us, he also stressed the need for Christian communities to remember the importance of Palestine and its connection to the holy Prophet Jesus.
I would like to remind all Christians all around the world: there is no point in celebrating Christmas if you do not pay attention to what is happening in Palestine, as it is the birthplace of Christ and where Christianity originated and spread its message throughout the world. The nativity grotto is in Bethlehem. The true light of Christmas emanated from Bethlehem.”
He continued with: “[I] call upon all the churches of the world, in the west and east, to urgently defend Palestine, the children of Palestine, and the Palestinian cause. Let our message this Christmas be to free Palestine and the Palestinian people.”
Hanna also did not shy away from criticizing the US’s close partnership with Israel, reminding Christians that Israel continues to violate international law and human rights. “We reject America’s unjust decisions which come in support of Israeli policies and the occupation of Jerusalem”, he stated, while condemning Israel’s continued apartheid government of treating Palestinians like second-class citizens.
We will remain in Jerusalem, defending our religious sites and endowments. We reject the policies of the occupation. We will not surrender. Our motto will always be: freedom and dignity for the Palestinian people. Our religious sites will remain ours. Jerusalem will remain ours.”
As Israel continues to move with impunity when it comes to the occupation of Palestinian lands and peoples, it remains imperative on our side to remain in solidarity across different communities when it comes to protecting and supporting the rights of Palestine. The Archbishop of Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Church has voiced his support for Palestine – however it remains to be seen how the world will react in the next year in regards to Israel’s continued human rights abuses.
