According to the religious authorities, Jerusalem is empty of his population and his Christian heritage under the threat of radical groups.
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At Christmas approach, the heads of the Christian Churches of Jerusalem have launched a campaign denouncing a strategy aimed at “chasing the Christians of Jerusalem and other parts of the Holy Land”. In a rare common communiqué signed by the representatives of the Armenian, Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican Churches, addressed to the Israeli authorities, religious leaders are concerned about the increase in violence against Christians in Jerusalem. “Since 2012, there have been countless physical and verbal attacks on the clergy and the churches, the holy places are regularly vandalized and secular” by radical groups, explains the press release.
“Strategic purchases” “
They also denounce “strategic” purchases of properties in the Christian district of the old town, “in order to reduce the Christian presence, often using intimidation techniques to expel residents”. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, at the origin of this initiative, is one of the largest landowners in Israel and in the Palestinian territories and has been the subject of strong criticisms on the part of the Palestinians, for selling three buildings located. In the old town at Ateret Cohanim, an association of Israeli settlers. The patriarchy, who says he was deceived on the identity of the buyers, failed to recover his property; Today, it is forced to guarantee the rents of the Palestinians who live there in protecting them from expulsion. Atteret Cohanim does not hide his intentions to replace them with Jews.
Israel defended from these accusations: “The Christian population in Israel is constantly increased and is an integral part of the unique Israeli social fabric,” the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the central office of statistics, 182,000 Christians live in the country , a number up 1.4% compared to 2020.
The launch of this Christmas campaign, pilgrimage season, has nothing to chance. Religious tourism, which brings $ 3 billion (2.7 billion euros) per year to the local economy, is an important source of income for the Christian community. The decision of the Israeli authorities to close the borders to combat the Omicron variant as part of the holidays, while exceptions for some Jewish tourist groups, has sparked incomprehension and anger.