Amman, March 13, 2025 – Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, met today with Archimandrite Vassian Zmeev, the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in the Holy Land and Jordan, at the headquarters of the Palestine National Fund in Amman.
Khouri warned that Israeli policies, including intensified violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites, pose a grave threat to the Christian presence in Jerusalem and the wider Holy Land. He highlighted the imposition of unjust taxes on churches by Israeli authorities as part of an attempt to alter the historical and religious landscape, undermining their sacred status. These actions, he stressed, are part of broader efforts to erode Palestinian rights and depopulate Jerusalem of its indigenous inhabitants.
He also detailed ongoing Israeli aggressions against Palestinians, including the war on Gaza and repeated attacks on cities, villages, and refugee camps across the West Bank. Khouri called for urgent international intervention to safeguard religious sites and reinforce Palestinian resilience.
Archimandrite Vassian Zmeev conveyed the greetings of Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow and All Russia to President Mahmoud Abbas and Minister Dr. Ramzi Khouri, reaffirming the unwavering solidarity of the Russian Church with the Palestinian people in the face of their continued hardships. He underscored the critical need to preserve Jerusalem’s Christian heritage and counter any attempts to diminish its historical presence.
Archimandrite Vassian Zmeev also praised the deep trust between the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission and the Higher Presidential Committee, expressing gratitude for their dedicated efforts to protect both the Church and the Christian community.
The meeting was attended by Yuri Romashouk, Advisor to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Palestine, and Raed Hanania, Director of Public Relations and Media at the Committee.
Khouri warned that Israeli policies, including intensified violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites, pose a grave threat to the Christian presence in Jerusalem and the wider Holy Land. He highlighted the imposition of unjust taxes on churches by Israeli authorities as part of an attempt to alter the historical and religious landscape, undermining their sacred status. These actions, he stressed, are part of broader efforts to erode Palestinian rights and depopulate Jerusalem of its indigenous inhabitants.
He also detailed ongoing Israeli aggressions against Palestinians, including the war on Gaza and repeated attacks on cities, villages, and refugee camps across the West Bank. Khouri called for urgent international intervention to safeguard religious sites and reinforce Palestinian resilience.
Archimandrite Vassian Zmeev conveyed the greetings of Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow and All Russia to President Mahmoud Abbas and Minister Dr. Ramzi Khouri, reaffirming the unwavering solidarity of the Russian Church with the Palestinian people in the face of their continued hardships. He underscored the critical need to preserve Jerusalem’s Christian heritage and counter any attempts to diminish its historical presence.
Archimandrite Vassian Zmeev also praised the deep trust between the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission and the Higher Presidential Committee, expressing gratitude for their dedicated efforts to protect both the Church and the Christian community.
The meeting was attended by Yuri Romashouk, Advisor to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Palestine, and Raed Hanania, Director of Public Relations and Media at the Committee.
