A Message by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

After the incidents of the
Archaeological Tunnel
in Jerusalem

l. Recently violence broke out in the Holy City along with all the other Palestinian cities in reaction to the opening of the tunnel beside Masjed Al-Aksa. This incident constituted a provocation to the deepest Muslim religious feelings and fears, provided the several and repeated attempts from some jewish parties which have been aiming to reach and to control Haram A1 Sharif. For Christians also, this opening has turned the Via Dolorosa into an area of constant tension, preventing believers and pilgrims from accessing this holy site, given that one of the entrances of the tunnel is right across from the Flagellation Church. During this wave of violence many victims were killed and wounded on both Palestinian and Israeli sides. We express our deep condolences to the afflicted families on both sides and we pray for all the wounded.

2. We are part of all what has been happening in Jerusalem. We are part of the Holy City, and of all happenings in it. The sufferings of all the residents of this city, Palestinians and Israelis alike, are our sufferings too. Our prayer is that, one day, peace, based upon justice, truth and trust, may become a reality in the hearts of all the components of the City.

3. We believe that the direct reasons beyond the outbreak of this violence wave triggered by the tunnel incident and spread throughout the Palestinian cities, are the jamming of the peace process along with all the accumulated injustices and sufferings of people in the Palestinian cities: the repeated closures and specially of Jerusalem, the continuous land confiscations aiming to expand the Jewish settlements, the effort to reduce the Palestinian Christian and Moslem presence in Jerusalem through con fi scating the ID's of Jerusalem residents who live, for any reason, outside the Holy City borders, whether in the Palestinian regions or abroad, the demolishing of houses, the holding of Palestinian prisoners, the continuous humiliation and harassment in the way of dealing with Palestinians, and finally the worsening of the situation of the daily life living to a miserable level.

4. Nevertheless we also believe that violence cannot but generate violence. Only peace can produce peace. It is only through respecting and guaranteeing basic human rights and human dignity that peace will be maintained. We sincerely call upon the Israeli authorities, with the primary aim to reach the needed security for the Israeli people himself, and we say to them that this security cannot become a reality without insuring the same security to the Palestinians in Jerusalem and in all their cities. We urge them to reactivate the peace process and without any more delays or hesitations. Time is not working for the peacemakers. Rather time is costing immeasurable pain and suffering and is only benefiting extremism and violence. We do not want that violence be the only language that moves issues and alert authorities, but let wise determination and good intentions be the motive for moving the peace process. It is also clear at this stage that the question of the Holy City is the main nerve in calming down the whole situation: Jerusalem first and foremost. The question of Jerusalem must examined and negotiated, despite the difficulties and challenges.

5. Since the first day we visited along with the Patriarchs of the Holy City the wounded in the Maqased Hospital, then we proceeded to the High Islamic Council where we ensured our Muslim brothers about the unity of our one Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians, and the necessity of the Moslem Christian dialogue for the daily life requirements. At the same evening, we paid a visit to the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Eihud Olmert and expressed our concerns about the events in the Holy City and the Palestinian cities. We expressed our condolences for the deceased and injured from the Israeli side, and made clear that the security of the Israelis should be built on the Palestinian security and on easing the great sufferings of the people. At the meeting of the Patriarchs and Heads of Christian communities in Jerusalem we decided to have an ecumenical prayer at Saint-Anne Basilica and then in the Flagellation Church, on Sunday, September 29, 1996 at 4 h.p.m.

We ask all our sons and daughters to pray God that peace may return With the Palestinian and Israeli authorities we call to come back to tranquillity, so that the peace process could be resumed with new determination. Pray to God that He may grant us peace and tranquillity; that he may put in the minds of Palestinian and Israeli leaders wisdom and prudence so as to go out the tunnel of fears and hesitation, to build a new civilisation founded on peace, justice and love, in the Holy City and throughout the whole region.

+Michel Sabbah, Patriarch
Jerusalem, 29 September 1996