President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
September 11, 2023
Dear President Biden: Subject: Urgent Call regarding Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land As leaders of Christian communions and agencies in the United States, we write to you with a deep concern for the well-being of our fellow Christians in the Holy Land, and in support of the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem who have spoken publicly on the challenges facing their communities. Ahead of your upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, we urgently appeal to you to address the escalating violence, incitement, and hate crimes against Palestinian Christians under the new Israeli government. Palestinian Christians today represent the continuous Christian presence in the Holy Land that dates back two thousand years. They are an essential part of the rich tapestry of religious, cultural, and political life in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. We believe the vitality and flourishing of this community is a critical element in efforts to realize your call for security, freedom, and prosperity, in equal measure, for all the people of the land. The Holy Land, a place of immense spiritual significance to Christians worldwide, is witnessing an alarming spike in targeted attacks against the indigenous Christian population, especially Christian clergy, but also against churches, cemeteries, and other sacred sites. These acts of hatred, which have increased in frequency over the years, not only inflict harm on innocent individuals and communities but also carry severe ramifications for Israel's international relations and damage its credibility when it purports to be a place of religious tolerance. We urgently request that you use the influence of your good office to call for swift and decisive action by Israel to hold perpetrators of these attacks accountable for their crimes so that this troubling reality might end. Additionally, we remain deeply concerned about the immediate legal threat facing the Mount of Olives that could strip the area’s control away from various Christian denominations, including the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Armenian Patriarchate, the Catholic Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, and the Russian Orthodox Church. The site holds immense spiritual significance for Christians globally, as it is the place where Jesus Christ spent his final days and ascended into heaven. The proposed inclusion of the Mount of Olives in an Israeli national park could have far-reaching consequences. This move threatens to fundamentally disrupt the delicate religious balance and heritage of Jerusalem and its character as a city of universal significance. It would lead to the displacement of more Palestinians from Jerusalem, a city whose Palestinian population is perpetually under threat of eviction and expulsion, without any recourse. We recognize that the hearing on this issue has been postponed until the end of the year and call for your intervention to halt any plan that would take control of this sacred Christian site away from its current residents. Our affection for and obligation to our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters compels us to act, as does our deep desire to see the Christian heritage in the Holy Land protected. We stand in solidarity with people who experience injustice and are denied their rights. In this case, we join the Church leaders of Jerusalem in their call to preserve and protect our Palestinian Christian siblings who endure daily persecution and discrimination. We respectfully urge you to raise these pressing issues during your anticipated meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the rights, safety, and dignity of all Christians in the Holy Land. As we advocate for a lasting peace with justice for all the people of the Holy Land, we believe that determined efforts by the Government of Israel must be made to ensure that Jerusalem is allowed to speak in its multiple voices--Jewish, Christian, and Muslim—and that all its residents can flourish, prosper and worship freely without fear of displacement, harassment, or violence. Only through a strong stance against incitement and attacks and through a commitment to fostering a culture of mutuality and respect, can the Holy Land truly reflect its historical role as a place of harmony and coexistence among different religious communities. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. May your upcoming meeting bring about positive changes and contribute to a more peaceful, just, and inclusive Holy Land. Yours faithfully, |
