<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[‘OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL’ …. BUT NOT TO THE HOLY&nbsp;LAND]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p class="byline"><small> Posted  			by desertpeace			at PS.HADNEWS.COM on Tuesday, 			April 12, 			2011 			at 6:37 am. </small></p>
<div><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">The Holy  Sepulchre Church and other crucial  religious sites are rendered “off  limits for Christians through a complex  network of walls, checkpoints,  and security apparatuses”. </span></em></div>
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<h4><span style="color:#808000;font-family:Verdana;font-size:large;">Position of the local Palestinian Christian  community on restrictions on religious rights (especially during Holy  Week)</span></h4>
<h4><small><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color:#000000;">Kairos  Palestine</span></span></span></small></h4>
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<td width="100%" align="justify" valign="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">The Palestinian Christian  initiative </span><a href="http://www.kairospalestine.ps/"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Kairos Palestine</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;"> has issued a  statement spelling out the position of the Palestinian  Christian community  concerning Israeli imposed restrictions on  religious rights, especially during  Holy Week. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">The statement  notes that “for Christians, Holy Week  in Jerusalem has a special  spiritual connection.” It says that the various  gathering points to  which pilgrims from all over the world journey, namely the  Old City,  its gates and roads, the Mount of Olives, Via Dolorosa and The Holy   Sepulchre Church, are equally important to the Palestinian Christians of  the  West Bank and Gaza. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">The statement  underlines the strong desire of  Christians in the West Bank and Gaza  “to join their Jerusalemite Christian  brothers and sisters in the  liturgical events leading to the resurrection, the  holiest celebration  in Christianity”. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">The statement  points out that “in every country  that respects (and practices) freedom  of worship, they do so without  restrictions from the governing  authorities”. It proceeds to bemoan the fact  that the occupying power  has denied free access to Holy places of worship to  both Christians and  Muslims on several important occasions over the last decade. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">This  discriminatory and restrictive policy by  Israel allows only 8000  pilgrims and few hundreds of locals to enter the city on  Holy Fire  Saturday. The Holy Sepulchre Church and other crucial religious sites   are rendered “off limits for Christians through a complex network of  walls,  checkpoints, and security apparatuses”. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Traditionally,  Palestinian Christians welcome The  Holy Light seated on the roof of the  Patriarchate and at the Church of Saint  Jacob, adjoining the Holy  Sepulchre. This religious tradition is something they  are unwilling to  forfeit because it is a violation of a fundamental human rights  and a  restriction on their right to religious freedom. It further upsets a   centuries old tradition for the Palestinian Christians. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Kairos Palestine  decries this unjust and one-sided  policy which compels Christians and  Muslims to apply for permits to enter while  Jews continue to have free  access. At best, not more than two or three thousand  Palestinian  Christians will receive entry permits. The permit system instated by   Israel is in obvious violation of various Human Rights, international  covenants  and treaties to which Israel is a signatory. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Kairos Palestine  rejects “the imposition of a  permit/quota system to access our churches  and shrines”. The Kairos statement  points to how “the heavy presence  of Israeli Police and Military forces prevents  Christians from  accessing the Holy Sepulchre Church and the Old City thus  disturbing  the spiritual atmosphere of Easter”. The presence of Israeli  commanders  in and around the Tomb of Christ under the pretext of security is   unacceptable. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">The Kairos  statement states that such actions taken  against Palestinian Christians  are an affront not only to them, the first and  oldest Christian  community in the world, but also to Christianity as a whole. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">The  Palestine-Israel Ecumenical Forum urges  churches around the world to  support the call of Kairos Palestine which invites  “all our leaders,  friends, brothers and sisters around the world to continue  exerting  pressure on Israel, to end its military occupation on this land and to   respect international law and human rights”. In terms of practical  measures,  Kairos Palestine urges: </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Church leaders  not to submit and accept the  conditions that deprive indigenous and  international worshippers of the joy of  celebrating Easter. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Letters to  political representatives to pressure  Israel by political means to end  its restrictions on the freedom to religion in  general and with regard  to the Easter celebrations in particular. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Letters of protest to Israeli ambassadors in your  countries complaining against such actions. </span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.kairospalestine.ps/sites/default/Documents/Kairos%20position%20on%20Holy%20week.pdf"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;">Click here</span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;"> for the full  text of the statement from Kairos Palestine. </span></p>
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<p><a href="http://ps.hadnews.com/%e2%80%98oh-come-all-ye-faithful%e2%80%99-%e2%80%a6-but-not-to-the-holy-land.htm">Source</a></p>
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