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Posted on 12/19/2007 11:30:56 AM PST by Alouette
Top Roman Catholic clergyman in Jerusalem slams definition of Israel as Jewish nation, says land must be shared by all religions. Latin Patriarch says Israeli-Palestinian conflict has unleashed 'forces of evil' across Middle East, conflict perpetuates because of Israel's 'unwillingness' to make peace
News agencies Published: 12.19.07, 17:35 / Israel News
Israel's identity as a Jewish state discriminates against non-Jews, its top Roman Catholic clergyman said in a pre-Christmas address on Wednesday in Jerusalem.
''If there's a state of one religion, other religions are naturally discriminated against,'' Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah told reporters at the annual press conference he holds in Jerusalem before Christmas. In his address, which he read in Arabic and English, Sabbah said Israel should abandon its Jewish character in favor of a ''political, normal state for Christians, Muslims and Jews.''
Sabbah denounced Israel's demand to be recognized as a Jewish state by the Palestinians and said "God made this land for all three of us, so a suitable state is one who can adapt itself to the vocation of this land.
''This land cannot be exclusive for anyone,'' he said, adding that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had unleashed "forces of evil" across the Middle East and that it was Israel's obligation, as to end the warring. "The one who will decide is Israel. If Israel decides for peace, there will be peace… Until now, there has been no peace, simply because there has been no willingness to make it."
Sabbah expressed hope for peace in the Holy Land and urged both sides to shun violence, whether "carried out by the state or by extremists".
Arye Mekel, a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, said Israel provides full religious freedom to people of all faiths. ''We reject his claim that other religions are not enjoying equal rights in Israel,'' Mekel said.
Israel has long pointed out that other countries call themselves Islamic republics and are not criticized.
Sabbah, who has been the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 1987, is the first Palestinian to hold the post and is frequently critical of Israel.
He also lashed out at Israel for visa restrictions he said were unfair to Christian clergy.
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yea, its all israel’s fault.
this guy is a tool.
I don't recall the Israeli government imprisoning any Roman Catholics for holding a prayer meeting.
He must work for the State Department.
Where in the Bible does it say that?
There, fixed it
I hear there is a new position open for the top Roman Catholic clergyman in Jerusalem.
Then I noticed this:
Sabbah, who has been the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 1987, is the first Palestinian to hold the post and is frequently critical of Israel.
Turns out I was right....
Is the Vatican now saying that the christian nation I and many other nations can´t define us as such any more?
This is actually a hotly contested issue here, having raised to prominence recently due to new laws about education, taking a sentence of christian values out of the laws, sadly. And it is my party that is doing this...
There are many confused Bishops in the Church. Here is one of them.
Read the article. The Vatican is not issuing these comments.
Does the rest of the Middle East allow for Christians and Jews alike? No the only one is Israel. This guy is like a journalist. Hit the safe target and ignore the dangerous one.
reuters and AP are gonna have a field day with this.
Is his church in Saudi Arabia? Is Jerusalem in Saudi Arabia? Is Bethlehem?
Sabbah is an Islamo-Christian and Dhimmi.
“This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring’” (Deut. 34:4)
''This land cannot be exclusive for anyone,'' he said, adding that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had unleashed "forces of evil" across the Middle East and that it was Israel's obligation, as to end the warring. "The one who will decide is Israel. If Israel decides for peace, there will be peace… Until now, there has been no peace, simply because there has been no willingness to make it."
The land was not promised to any other nimrod, least of all.... better not go there.
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Since Israel has 14 official religious denominations, Judaism, Islam, and 10 or 11 Christian denominations, I'm not sure what the problem is.
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