Jerusalem Churches Slam Bid To Kick Out Christians From Holy Land

In a campaign launched ahead of Christmas, leaders of Christian churches in Jerusalem have criticized Israel for its response to violent attacks and moves by settler groups to acquire more properties in the Old City, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

Photo Insert: A Christian church in old Jerusalem, Israel.

The heads of Christian denominations in Jerusalem have scored the Israeli government for not lifting a finger in preventing violent attacks by radical groups and attempts by Israeli settler organizations to acquire properties in the Old City, decrying a "systematic attempt to drive the Christian community out of Jerusalem and other parts of the Holy Land."

Roman Catholic orders, Orthodox churches, and Protestant groups supervise churches, monasteries and maintain control of holy sites in Jerusalem as guaranteed by agreements forged after the Crusades and before the establishment of the state of Israel.

However, Palestinian Christians and Israelis who converted have been subjected to discrimination owing to the dogmatic assertion by Rabbis that Jews are the chosen people and the rest of humanity are Gentiles or goyim and thus denied salvation.

Critics have condemned this position and said the State of Israel appears to be more of a theocracy like Iran’s.

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