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More than 50 diplomats and development agency representatives attended.
“Respect for people’s religious rights touches deep in their souls; it helps them see the humanity of others who are created in God’s image, and it creates the type of peace that withstands the test of time,” said George Sahhar, advocacy officer for the WCC Jerusalem Liaison Office and the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel.
“This is why followers of the three monotheistic religions must enjoy their rights equally in Jerusalem,” added Sahhar, who led the presentation.
Participants viewed the newly released WCC video addressing the importance of freedom of worship in Jerusalem and for the whole world.
Produced through the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, the video sheds light on ongoing threats to the freedom of worship, and discriminatory practices particularly against the Holy Land’s Christian and Muslim populations.
Sahhar’s presentation also summarized the information from a factsheet, “Demographics of East Jerusalem,” which highlights the harsh realities residents face and their daily struggles under the occupation, as well as other factsheets published by the WCC.
Participants were asked to take the message to their governments, and to the government of Israel, to ensure that freedom of worship is protected in Jerusalem equally for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
The WCC message reiterated that Muslims must have unimpeded access with dignity to the Holy City on Fridays during Ramadan, that Christians from the West Bank can enter Jerusalem freely during Palm Sunday on 13 April, and that no checkpoints are placed around the Holy Sepulcher Church during Holy Fire Saturday on 19 April.
Link to factsheet “Demographics of East Jerusalem”
Additional factsheets: