Dear friends and partners,
I am deeply concerned that with each passing day the people of the Holy Land are losing any sense of empathy, any sense of mutual understanding of our common humanity and common future hopefully that they will not lose hope because without hope they cannot live anymore… In this difficult situation the Church of Jesus Christ should preach hope because we believe in the Resurrection. It is true that we are the church of the cross, Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre but it is also true that we are the Church of the Resurrection Anastasis, therefore we are waiting for our resurrection and it will come sooner or later.
Peace must be built on rights for all and protection for all. The collective punishment of the Palestinians must cease immediately. Detention without charge or trial, home demolitions, closures at checkpoints and other methods that punish indiscriminately have devastating effects on the daily life of Palestinians and only increase animosity and intolerance.
Caritas Jerusalem denounces the violations of the basic human rights and calls upon the international community to intervene and end the ongoing worsening situation that is taking lives day in and day out.
Let us, on this International Day of Solidarity pray that God would give wisdom and courage to the leaders of the world to make just choices and end the occupation so that people could live in peace and nurture their children with love and hope for a brighter future.
Fr. Raed Abusahlia
General Director
Caritas Jerusalem
