Christian leaders in Jerusalem warn Trump, say his decision will cause ‘explosion’ in Arab states

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Archbishop Pizzaballa (L) has warned Trump his policy could result in conflicts across the Middle East
Archbishop Pizzaballa (L) has warned Trump his policy could result in conflicts across the Middle East

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, has spoken out against Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital after days of conflict in the West Bank.

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli troops earlier today as tensions flared close to the Gaza border.

Thousands of Palestinians have been demonstrating on a “day of rage”, while Israeli soldiers have responded with live bullets and teargas.

Now, Archbishop Pizzaballa has issued a major warning about how the unrest could spread throughout the Middle East.

He told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need: “I think that this will create a big problem, an explosion in all of the Arab countries especially the Muslim countries.

“Jerusalem should be at the end of these negotiations, not the beginning.“And any unilateral decision will create more frustration, and anger and I’m afraid will bring to more violence. I don’t think it is wise to do it in this way.”He demanded an “inclusive approach” to Jerusalem because of the city’s importance to a number of different faiths.

He said: “Jerusalem is the holy city for all. It is the heart of the life of the Faith.“If you do not understand that in the Middle East – for Arab countries and Israel too, they are religious, that the religious element is part of their identity – you don’t understand the Middle East.

“And in this religious identity Jerusalem is central.

“As long as the religious community doesn’t have an inclusive approach it will be almost impossible to compromise on Jerusalem.”

Trump’s decision has enraged Palestine and prompted fury across the world
Archbishop Pizzaballa has also joined other Christian leaders in Jerusalem in writing a letter to Trump to warn him of the potential consequences of the decision to relocate the US Embassy.The letter stated: “We are certain that such steps will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division.”

Trump’s announcement unravelled years of work to establish peace in the Middle East and sparked warnings from Hamas about possible uprisings against Israel.

Spontaneous protests broke out in the hours after Trump’s speech and despite the deployment of thousands of Israeli troops there are few signs that tensions will subside quickly.

Archbishop Pizzaballa and other Christian leaders have written to Trump about the policy change
The Islamist group said Trump had “opened the gates of hell” with his “flagrant aggression” while Turkey strongly condemned the move.A host of US allies have condemned the move and vowed not to follow the US in recognising Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Angela Merkel and Britain’s Theresa May have all condemned the move, with the after branding Trump’s announcement “unhelpful”.

Meanwhile, Turkish president Erdogan and Pope Francis have together agreed to avoid any changes to Jerusalem’s status.

 

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9 responses to “Christian leaders in Jerusalem warn Trump, say his decision will cause ‘explosion’ in Arab states”

  1. George Eroes Avatar
    George Eroes

    nice colourful poofta robes

  2. Those videos should cause ‘explosion’ in Arab states….
    https://youtu.be/7-VLQwleTUc
    https://youtu.be/aVWOst7CfQs

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar

      Why ?
      The reporter had an Israel accent his questions were irespecful and provocative..

      Jesus never ever said he was the Son of God.
      That’s the Western Roman Latin version.

      Jesus called God my Father/ like all Christians (like the woman in the video called God; Rabna). Christianity in the Middle East had Popes Bishops Patriarchs in Jerusalem, Alexandria and Syria, 200 years before Rome.
      West and Orient can be friends, but hand’s Off..

  3. Hind dose it again, after she have seen my comment about christian leaders in Jerusalem, she twits the “Palestinians: Who is Jesus for you?”
    https://twitter.com/AbyadHind/status/940155008041013248
    However “Palestinians: Would you marry a Jew?” video is too sensitive / embarrassing.

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar

      What comment? You posted videos, i was alone to here you ran over to spam this article, listen I’ve been reminding you, you spread the lie you can’t read my comments cause i’m blocked, but continue harassing I see..I’l do it for you. Blocked.

  4. Why the Christian leaders in Jerusalem don’t condemn this act of disrespectful Palestinian arab dressed as Santa Claus?
    Is Saint Nicholas not holy for the Christian leaders in Jerusalem? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5b38fffbae1200d20f2bfc68b19eb441061de9accf0a84683ca21fee793d5ada.jpg clashes at the Atara checkpoint, near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2c394006e28ad008d2122c7958520a831b5d8be6d6f08b32ab6eb6293a70035c.jpg A 13th-century depiction of St. Nicholas from Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai

    Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture, Saint Nicholas is not a damn disrespectful Muslim Palestinian Arab!
    Santa Claus is generally depicted as a portly, joyous, white-bearded man – definitely not a violent Muslim Palestinian Arab!

    Santa Claus grew out of traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1cc2d16eaf161064410ada199fff29811b6a58f0aa3968ebb85c9c2c994c40fc.jpg Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas called simply Santa

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