The heads of the Christian churches in Jerusalem have announced a growing threat from radical Israeli groups seeking to expel Christians from the occupied Holy City.

The joint statement of the clergy emphasizes that the radicals are moving towards their goal, not disdaining any methods that include intimidation, physical violence against clergymen and ordinary Christians, their insult, attacks on churches, and desecration of shrines.

The document notes that ultimately the attackers seek to destroy the traces of Christian civilization and expel the believers from the Holy Land.

The appeal was signed, in particular, by the Primate of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine Theophilos III, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nurkhan Manukyan, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa and others.

The authors of the appeal noted that local authorities and law enforcement agencies are not taking proper measures to curb radical groups.

In addition, radicals continue to buy strategically important real estate in the Christian Quarter through secret machinations and intimidation in order to evict Christian residents from their homes.

“This is leading to a significant decline in the Christian population and further disruption of the historic pilgrimage routes between Bethlehem and Jerusalem,” the statement said.

bbabo.Net