The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation condemns in the strongest possible terms the current invasion of the predominantly Christian city of Ramallah in the West Bank The city has been placed under curfew. Israeli snipers dominate the rooftops and are shooting anyone who moves in the open. Tank fire blasted away at many of the buildings

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF)*
News Release

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation condemns in the strongest possible terms the current invasion of the predominantly Christian city of Ramallah in the West Bank The city has been placed under curfew. Israeli snipers dominate the rooftops and are shooting anyone who moves in the open. Tank fire blasted away at many of the buildings

This invasion takes place on Good Friday, the same day that our Lord, Jesus Christ was falsely accused by the Pharisees and sentenced to death by crucifixion by Pontius Pilate. He was crucified and died on this day almost 2000 years ago. We know that on the third day, he cheated death; he arose again and achieved life everlasting. His followers multiplied and soon were called Christians in the city of Antioch. His teaching spread throughout the world.

Is it not remarkable that this latest atrocity by the Israeli government is a metaphor for the events that took place during the lifetime of Jesus Christ? The stiff-necked Israelis at that time refused to believe in Christ’s message of peace and love. The same is happening today. The Israelis used the power of imperial Rome to strike the Lord down. The same is happening today. The Israelis of Jerusalem executed the messenger as the solution to the un-welcomed message that Jesus Christ brought to the world. The same is happening today. Military might and violence did not bring security to the Israelis of Christ’s time. The same is happening today. On the third day, events took place that spelled doom to those in Jerusalem and in Rome. Will the same happen today?

Christians living in Ramallah have had a continuous presence in the Holy Land since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, 2000 years ago. The Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza for 35 years has created a Palestine that has experienced suppression, arrests, torture, home demolitions, poverty and despair. Christians and Muslims have lived in this environment for four generations, ever since the 1967 war. Persecution of Palestinians continues to this very day as manifest by the Israeli invasion of Ramallah. The suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine goes largely un-noticed by the rest of the world. The third day has yet to arrive.

* The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501c3 non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land by developing bonds of solidarity with Christians in the United States, providing humanitarian assistance to relieve suffering, offering educational support, and assisting with local job creation.  HCEF, PO Box 6687, Silver Spring, MD 20906.  (301) 951-9400, Fax (301) 951-9402.  www.hcef.org.  email: news@hcef.org, Toll Free (866) 871-4233