His Excellency Dr.Ramzi Khoury, President of the Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs, condemned the attacks of the Israeli occupation police on the worshipers who wanted to participate in the celebrations of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem. The occupation police prevented the worshippers from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher by setting up military checkpoints to impede the movement of the city’s residents.
“The holy land today looks like a military barracks due to the large number of soldiers. The attacks were not only on local residents and worshippers but also religious and public figures, that were assaulted and prevented to enter the church of the Holy Sepulcher,including two nuns who were stopped by force. We have witnessed these endless attacks also a few days ago in the Damascus Gate and in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where the worshippers were attacked.
The occupying power believes that they are dealing with a weak and defenseless people, but what they forget is that the Palestinian people with its diversity are united and steadfast. We will never leave our churches and mosques, we will remain here, in our eternal capital, Jerusalem.
The international community are witnesses to all theviolations and assaults against the Palestinian people and the time has come for them to end their silence,which gives the green light to the occupying power to continue such violations”.
