The Papal Charity Aid to the Church in request (ACN) condemned the surge of anti-Christian incidents in the Holy Land (Israel), including “attacks on sacred places, schools, and even ceremony processes.” In a message of April 14, the group referred to a fresh joint message by the patriarchs and rulers of the churches in Jerusalem condemning the expanding force against Christians in Jerusalem and another parts of the Holy Land.
"Over the past year any of our churches, ceremony processes and public gathering sites have become the mark of attacks; any of our sanctuaries and cemeteries are desecrated; and any of our ancient liturgies, specified as the liturgy of Palm Sunday and the Holy Fire ceremony, are closed to thousands of believers," we read in a joint statement. “This is the case despite our cooperation agreements with the authorities and any reasonable requests they may make,” added.
In its transmission, PKWP notes that by the time the State of Israel was established in 1948, “Christians accounted for 18 percent of the West Bank population—now little than 1 percent”.
Christians have migrated for various reasons, as the group claims, including “the burden of discrimination in employment and restrictions on movement caused by the barrier in the West Bank, which leads to serious economical problems”.
The Times of Israel likewise condemned the expanding anti-Christian force in the Holy Land, blaming for part of the aggression of “Jewish extremists”. The Christian leaders of Jerusalem “talk about a deteriorating atmosphere of harassment, apathy from the authorities and increasing fear that cases of spitting and vandalism can turn into something much darker,” says the newspaper.
Father Francesco Paton, curator of the Holy Land, cited 7 anti-Christian incidents that have occurred in fresh weeks, saying, “It is no coincidence that these serious incidents happen right now.” "We are terrified and hurt by many cases of force and hatred that have late occurred against the Catholic community in Israel," said the priest. "We anticipate and request that the Israeli government and law enforcement authorities act with determination to destruct these serious incidents," he said.
The Greek Orthodox Church stated in its own message that the terrorist attacks carried out by extremist Israeli groups, aimed at churches, cemeteries and Christian estates, “became an almost everyday phenomenon which seemingly escalated during Christian holidays.”
These attacks included the profanation of graves at the Protestant cemetery in Mount Zion, vandalism in the Maronite community centre in the northern city of Ma’alot-Tarshiha, and the demolition of buildings of the Jerusalem community, with graffiti promising “revenge, “death to Christians”, “death to Arabs and Gentiles” and “death to Armenians”.
Gaza News+ reports: “Israeli business forces brutally bully Christians and hinder their access to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied Jerusalem to celebrate the Saturday of Light. This unjustified force is unacceptable and constitutes a gross violation of fundamental human rights and freedom of religion.
The planet can no longer tolerate this brutality against believers who simply effort to practice their religion in peace. We are solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters in these hard times, aware of the force and obstacles we have encountered at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
We powerfully condemn the force committed by Israeli business forces against believers and express our solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters. We call on the planet to open its eyes and condemn this violence! “
Jacek Mędrzycki
