Patriarch Twal, call for peace in Jerusalem!

“Let us return to Jerusalem. The Holy City is the key to peace in the Middle East. It is so because of its human, political and religious implications.” At a time when everyone, political and spiritual leaders, economic and financial realms, follow with equal “interest” and concern the unfolding of events in Syria and Iraq, the global fight against Daesh and Islamic terrorism, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal put the question of Jerusalem at the centre of all disputes, which, as known, are undermined by another conflict, that is, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which as of today has relatively been set aside. He did so in a meeting with a group of journalists from the Italian Federation of Catholic weeklies (Fisc) in their recent trip to the Holy Land to see some of the projects funded by the Italian Catholic Church with eight thousandth income tax payment funds.

The thorny issue of Jerusalem. “Israeli-Palestinian negotiations – he said – have always shelved the question of the Holy City.” An unfruitful dialogue, to the extent that according to His Beatitude, “we have dialogued far too much. The dialogue has been ongoing for the past 30 years, and to no avail. The population is not interested in the matter of the discussion but in its results, namely, freedom of movement, security, dignity, and peace.”

“Never before has there been such a strong need for logic, heart, and mercy, in order to condemn evil and let the goodness prevail

–  added the Latin Patriarch – only in this way will we be able to help the two peoples build a culture of peace. Acts of desperation – he underlined referring to the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians occurred in past few days – will never end the occupation. Indeed, they could serve as a pretext for Israel to make wider use of force. Israel is more powerful, we are aware of this, but desperate people cannot be asked logical and normal things.”

“We feel humiliated.” The tragic events inside and outside the Holy Land make it clear that the bridge-building commitment of the local Church was to no avail. Patriarch Twal called to mind the over 100 Christian schools in the Patriarchate, its 75 thousand students, its hospitals, healthcare centres, the shelters for the elderly, the disabled and the refugees, where coexistence and reconciliation are a way of life. “We feel humiliated – the Patriarch said – our faithful want to see the results of our efforts. They ask us ‘what have you done’? Nothing, we are tempted to reply. We feel frustrated. We feel comforted by the fact that ours is a long-lasting commitment whose fruits are destined to flourish. We are hopeful. We believe in education: when Israeli and Palestinian children play together, study together, eat together – be they Muslims, Jews or Christians – they are laying the grounds for coexistence.” For His Beatitude also the political realm must do its share with courageous decisions “in order to avoid dawdling in the domain of good intentions.” “But with these politicians – he said in clear words –little can be hoped.”

“Pray for peace in Jerusalem.” Peace, work, dignity, justice, stability, security is also the hope nurtured by Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey. “There are families who have lost everything: 260 thousand dead, millions of refugees and displaced persons” whose destinies are tied to those of the Palestinians and the Israelis. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”: the words of the Psalm today resonate ever more as a cry against terrorism in the world.

“The international community must make a conscience examination and admit its mistakes”

the Patriarch pointed out, extending his glance to the neighbouring Syrian conflict and to Daesh, the self-proclaimed Islamic State. “For president Obama and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius moderate rebels in Syria must be helped. But there is no such thing as ‘moderate rebels’! It’s useless to beat around the bush. There are no moderate tanks, there are no moderate bombs, nor moderate destruction.” Neither in Syria nor in Iraq. “Instead, there are many innocent ones who pay with their own lives.”

Waging war against Daesh also requires development, culture, justice, churches, mosques, courageous politicians and institutions.”

“Obama – His Beatitude said – has intervened only because strategic American interests were at stake. Perhaps witnessing the death of minority groups in Syria and Iraq was not in his interest? Witnessing the destruction of historical and archaeological sites, or the plight of million of refugees was not in his interest? Bombing is not enough. It is necessary to strike against the politics of interests, as mentioned by the Pope, who denounced the sale of weapons.”

From the place of agony. Next December 13, in Jerusalem, the Holy Door of the Jubilee of Mercy will be opened at the Gethsemane Basilica. “Our Church of the Calvary has naturally begun its jubilee journey on the site of the agony of Jesus. The suffering of Christ is coupled by the suffering of this Land, of this Region – concluded the Patriarch –

mercy tears down walls, ignorance, indifference, insensitivity, and contempt.

Let us return to God and to mutual respect between us. There are innocent men, women, children who have nothing to do with these wars.”