A message of light in shadow time
The Fides Agency emphasizes that, in the Holy Land, ‘darkness will not prevail’, a statement that encircles a message of hope based on John’s gospel. This document, issued by the Ecumenical Group of Reflection ‘A voice of Jerusalem for Justice’, encapsulates the call for dignity and justice in a context marked by violence.
Complaint of violence and dispossession
The manifesto reveals the crude reality of the Palestinian situation, noting that the expulsion of Palestinians from his lands is not only an act of violence, but a true sacrilege. The report warns that the Israeli army has been making a massive displacement of Palestinians to West Bank, one of the most significant since 1967, with more than 40,000 affected people, who now live without refuge or basic services.
Fears of annexation and terminological manipulation
The authors of the document express their concern about the possible imminent annexation of Palestinian territories, criticizing the use of terms such as ‘Judea and Samaria’ instead of occupied West Bank. This strategy, they say, seeks to erase Palestine from the map and denies the existence of Palestinians.
An allegation to the truth
The signatories urge Jews and Christians who believe that divine will is the annexation of this earth, saying that they have been the subject of a deception. They emphasize that both Palestinians and Israeli have been created in the image of God, and that they all deserve equality in dignity and rights.
A god of love and calling on the action
The document emphasizes that the god they worshiped is a god of love, who rejects violence and embraces all his children, including the Palestinians, who are considered their ‘neighbor’. The exhortation to ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ is an inviolable principle that they all share.
Birth of a reflection group
Recently formed, this reflection group has arisen in response to a new cycle of violence and terror that affects the region. With the aim of sharing perspectives and reflections on events that impact everyday life on the land of Jesus, the group includes prominent figures such as the Emeritus Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, and the Lutheran bishop, Munib Younan.
The diversity of voices in this reflection group is a testament to the need for constructive dialogue in times of crisis, with the intention of promoting justice and peace in a land that has witnessed so many struggles.
