Pope vexed over settler attacks against Christians in al-Quds: Church

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen + Israeli media
4 Oct 2023 18:03
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The spokesperson for the the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land stresses that the Israeli occupation authorities have permitted attacks against Christian churches.

Christian man carries a cross along the Via Dolorosa ahead of the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem's Old City, on April 2, 2021. (AP)

Israeli media cited the spokesperson for the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, Wadih Abu Nassar, on Wednesday, as saying that “the attacks against Christians have reached the entire world," adding that "the Pope learns about every incident and is angry."

Watch | Israeli settlers spit on a group of Christian worshipers while they headed to occupied #AlQuds to observe the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/Fj2VUPUeyg
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 3, 2023

Earlier on Wednesday, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, Archbishop Atallah Hanna, told Al Mayadeen that "the Christian presence in occupied Al-Quds is targeted by the Israeli authorities today, more than ever before."

He affirmed that the Israeli practices "target all the components of the Palestinian people."

In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, Archbishop Hanna pointed out that the phenomenon of spitting and insults by illegal Israeli settlers against Christian priests "is not new," noting that he has been subjected to it repeatedly.

He emphasized that "the phenomenon of attacking Christians has been ongoing for a long time," adding that it "has increased during the rule of the fascist government and amid the silence of the West."

"The Christian presence in occupied #AlQuds is targeted by the Israeli authorities today, more than ever before."

- The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, Archbishop Atallah Hanna to #AlMayadeen.#Palestine https://t.co/JuK0lPUAaF
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 4, 2023

In response to the insults by the settlers, the Archbishop said, "Every vessel overflows with what's inside it, and the settlers express their hatred towards Christians."

Elsewhere in his remarks, he emphasized that Christianity has not been imposed on this nation, but this nation is rather the cradle of Christianity, reiterating that those who target Christians are targeting all the Palestinian people with their symbols and sacred elements.

In this context, Archbishop Hanna explained to Al Mayadeen that there had been a dramatic decline in the number of Christians in occupied al-Quds, due to the occupation's practices.

He also reported holding an important meeting with Christian church leaders to discuss these insults, provocations, and ongoing acts of racism.

"Our goal is to unite and organize our internal affairs," Archbishop Hanna said.

Christians in al-Quds warn that settler attacks will not go unanswered

In turn, the leaders of the Christian community in occupied al-Quds warned on Tuesday against the continued attacks of the Israeli settlers targeting the Christians of the city, promising a response "from the youth", in case these attacks do not stop.

Israeli media also reported that dozens of foreign embassies have requested explanations from the Israeli occupation Foreign Ministry, following the attacks on Christians in the Palestinian capital.

Moreover, the Armenian community in the city also requested the occupation municipality and its police to offer them "prayer protection" from settler attacks. However, the Armenian Christians were faced with nothing but further discrimination practices, and their requests were rejected.

On his part, the Roman Catholic archimandrite of the Archdiocese of al-Quds Abdullah Daniel Julio told Al Mayadeen that "Israel does not want Arabs, whether Muslims or Christians, to remain in Palestine. If the occupation's attacks on Christians and their sanctuaries continue, our churches will turn into mere museums."

Father Julio also underscored that "this is a war on identity, and a war against the continued presence of Arabs in al-Quds," urging the need "to strengthen the presence of Arabs and Palestinians in al-Quds.