Bishop Atallah Hanna for the Christians of Jerusalem: The city is a trust in our necks

Juman Abu Arafa - Occupied Jerusalem

The Archbishop of Sebastia of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna renewed his call to the world and Arab churches to save the occupied Jerusalem Christians and their endowments, confront the occupation's attempts to seize it, and empty the city of its Christian component, stressing that protecting Christian endowments in Jerusalem "is not the job of Christians alone."

He also stressed - in his dialogue with Al-Jazeera Net - that the occupation does not differentiate in its targeting between the Islamic or Christian components, who should unite and stand in one trench, because they are in the same targeting goal, calling on Christians in Jerusalem to withstand it and not abandon it, because it is "the cradle of Christianity and the place of birth Jesus, "peace be upon him.

The following is the text of the interview:

We start by following the diversion of Christian properties in Jerusalem, specifically the Imperial and Petra hotels near the Gate of Hebron, what are the latest developments in their case, and is there a prospect for their recovery?

There is a targeting of the Christian presence in the city of Jerusalem, and this is not a result of the hour, since the city was occupied targeting Christian institutions and endowments in it, and the peak of targeting has reached the planning of settlers to seize our ancient Orthodox endowments, in the Gate of Hebron and the path leading to the churches, monasteries and neighborhoods of the Old City.

Only four thousand Christians remain inside the walls, and the number could diminish further if the properties in Bab Al-Khalil are seized. Whoever targets the Christian endowments is the same one who targeted the Islamic endowments that have been stolen from their owners since 1948, and the height of the attacks is what is happening today in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. Used to target us.

We say that the endowments of Bab Al-Khalil "the Petra and Imperial Hotels" will not be a preoccupation for the occupation, and we will not accept that the settlers take them over, and there are practical practical steps to nullify the scheme of this theft. We know the occupation’s malice and that it may surprise us at any time, but we are careful and vigilant about this matter, and we will not accept the passage of the appropriation, but rather we say more than that: all the properties that were stolen in the past must return to us, because the appropriations and looting were carried out in illegal and illegal ways Legitimacy, and endowments remain for their owners and not a commodity offered for sale and subject to targeting.

We believe that in due course all the properties that were stolen in the past will be returned, I do not say that they were leaked, because whoever stole them is not entitled to that.

What are the ways to preserve Christian properties in Jerusalem and protect them from diversion and the power of occupation?

I think that we should talk about all Islamic or Christian endowments, and I hope that concerted efforts will be made to defend Jerusalem, because when we are united and one hand we are stronger in our confrontation with the occupation, so protecting Christian properties is not the task of Christians alone. Arabs, Muslims and Christians must also stand with us Everywhere.

We make a plea for all the free people in the world, to all the Christian churches, and all the Islamic spiritual references, to stand by our side, because our struggle with the occupation is very harsh, and its goal is not only to steal the endowments, but to evacuate Jerusalem from its sons. It is true that we are in the field and the front lines, and we must do our duty, but we need to protect our Arab brothers everywhere.

In addition to the diversion of property, what are the most prominent dangers threatening the Christian presence in Jerusalem?

There is a dramatic decline in the numbers of Christians in Jerusalem. Immigration continues due to occupation policies, economic, social and life factors, and other factors, which made some Christians decide to leave Jerusalem and move to other places.

There is internal migration (displacement), by leaving the old town and residing in other cities inside Palestine, such as Bethlehem and Beit Jala, for example, and there is migration to America, Australia and Europe. During my participation in a mass in a church in the United States of America, I noticed that the Palestinian Christians in America are more than the Christians in Jerusalem, and this is a disaster, and a serious issue is that Jerusalem is emptied from its basic components.

The occupation targets Muslims and Christians alike, but its repercussions are more visible to Christians because they are fewer.

I would like to address my appeal to the Christians in Jerusalem, I tell them: Stay in Jerusalem, do not leave it under any circumstance, you will not find a place more beautiful than it, and keep your presence in it, your homes, your estates and your endowments, as Jerusalem is a trust in our necks.

A sharp and visible decline in the number of Jerusalem Christians, what are its causes, and how can we strengthen the Christian steadfastness in the Holy City?

The great retreat and the great catastrophe was in 1948, when tens of thousands of Christians left Jerusalem, there are neighborhoods west of Jerusalem that were emptied of their father’s sphere, and no one remained, such as Al-Qatamun and others, and after the Nakba the calamities and setbacks that led to the decline of the Christians ’numbers reached the second catastrophe in 1967. And, since then to this day, the bleeding of immigration continues and continues, and the main reason is due to the occupation and its barriers and racist wall, and whoever wanders in antiquated Jerusalem sees difficult and tragic situations.

The responsibility of working to keep the remaining Christians in Jerusalem lies not only with the Christians, but also with our Muslim brothers. They are our partners in the Palestinian Arab national affiliation, and we urge them to be with us, because emptying the Christians is a loss for all the people of Jerusalem, and there is a need for projects Housing and renovation of houses, to help some families and stand by marginalized Christians, and this is our shared responsibility.

You have repeatedly called on the Christians of the world to act to protect sacred places in Palestine and Jerusalem in particular. Have you received any response?

We have spared no effort in addressing the world about the justice of the Palestinian cause, and we launched the "Palestinian kairos" document ten years ago, and Christian clerics from the catastrophe until this hour and they are ambassadors for their cause wherever they go.

There are many responses from international churches in America, Australia, Europe and everywhere, and there are many friends for Palestine, whose number increases every day despite the efforts of the Zionist lobby. We always knock on the doors of the Christian Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical churches and others, and talk to them about the duty to defend Palestine because it is the land of birth and sacred things and the most just cause in modern human history.

In conjunction with celebrations of Christmas, the occupation completely closed the doors of Jerusalem to Christians in Gaza, while distributing permits to Christians in the West Bank. How do you view this violation of freedom of worship and the practice of religious rites?

I would like to express my strong reservations about the issue of permits, because the Palestinian in order to reach Jerusalem may not be asked for permission to do so, because this city is the capital of Palestine, and the holy city for Muslims and Christians, and the issue of permits is rejected by us altogether and in detail, Jerusalem must always be open to its children And the goal of the permits is to put pressure on the Palestinian and blackmail him, as if the occupation is telling us that I have the keys to Jerusalem.

We were not shocked that Gaza’s Christians were prevented from reaching the city of Bethlehem or Jerusalem. This is the occupation, and it is not permissible for us to forget that the entire sector is besieged, and there are two million people under siege, including Christians whose percentage does not exceed one thousand, and we confirm our condemnation of this prohibition that targets All Palestinians and prevents them from reaching the maximum and resurrection.

Your honor will be present on all occasions of the Palestinians, and you are currently participating in lighting the Christmas tree in the various regions of occupied Palestine. How did you find the tree lighting in Jerusalem compared to its counterparts, and what is the message of lighting it?

In Jerusalem, the lighting of the Christmas tree was celebrated in more than one location, as well as in Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Ramallah and Gaza, and many cities, villages and towns. Many people ask us about the increase in the phenomenon of lighting the Christmas tree in recent times, so we now see daily celebrations with the participation of all components of the Palestinian people - Christians and Muslims - and I tell them that there is a message to the entire world from behind these celebrations saying that the Palestinians, despite their wounds and their suffering, will rejoice and light their lights. Because they love life and freedom and love this land, and take pride in their homeland where Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, was born.

Illumination of the tree is a national wedding par excellence, and through it the Palestinians affirm that they are advocates of right and belonging to this land, and Christians and Muslims will remain one family defending Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause together.

- In the prime of your life, I was appointed a monk in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and stayed there. How do you compare the situation between yesterday and today?

I have been in Jerusalem for more than thirty years, and I was born in the village of Ramah in the Upper Galilee, and there I finished high school and then went to Greece to study theology and philosophy, and since I returned to Palestine in 1990 and I have been and remain in Jerusalem, and as we say in our Arabic language, "From the tenth of the people became From them, "I am a Jerusalemite of passion and affiliation. I adore Jerusalem and I cannot imagine myself outside it. Every morning I hear the bells and ears and meet the people of Jerusalem who I love.

Jerusalem, which I knew previously, differs from today. The settlers are increasing, and the occupation is seeking to marginalize us and wants us to turn into guests in our city. Jerusalem has changed, but I am not pessimistic, but I am optimistic to the utmost degree, because the fate of every unjust passed from this land to its demise, and the occupation will have a beginning and will have an end, and it will inevitably come.

Your headquarters in the Christian Quarter in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem. Tell us about her condition today, and do you still preserve her Christian identity and glow?

My seat is inside the Orthodox Patriarchate of Old Jerusalem, near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Christian or Christian Quarter, and when we talk about the Resurrection, we talk about the heart of Jerusalem, but today we see that settlers are arriving and touring, that endowments and estates have been robbed, and that there are outposts of settlement outposts.

The Christian neighborhood is still preserving its Christian character, but I cannot ignore the intrusion of settlers in it and in other neighborhoods, and itinerant in the Old City of Jerusalem notices a change in what has happened in it due to the policies of the occupation and its Judaization, and I repeat it again: that the occupation will be removed and the original people, what is required Until then, we must maintain our morale and steadfastness.

In conclusion, what distinguishes the Christian in Jerusalem from others in other countries of the world, and what is the trust that he holds?

When we talk about Jerusalem and Palestine, we talk about the cradle of Christianity. Two thousand years ago, Christ, peace be upon him, was born in our country and his message went to the East and West, and therefore the city of Jerusalem in the Christian custom is the first and only kiss, and the most important holy places in it, especially the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In Jerusalem and the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Annunciation in Nazareth, and so on, so even on Christmas there is a special flavor for Jerusalem because we celebrate his birth was born with us - as is the case on Easter and all Christian holidays - because these are festivals associated with events that took place here in the Holy Land.

Christians in Palestine are inherent in their belonging to their homeland and are not goods imported from the West, nor are they left over from the Frankish Crusade campaign - as some call it - and have an unbroken span for more than two thousand years, and they are linked and remain in this land, despite all the challenges and circumstances.