President Reuven Rivlin today visits the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem’s Old City to meet with Christian leaders from a host of denominations to mark the holiday of Easter.
Among the leaders are Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III.
Rivlin recalls last week’s Palm Sunday terror attacks targeting Egyptian Coptic communities that killed 45.
“while we celebrate these new beginnings and festivals of freedom [Passover and Easter], we are forced to face the return of a very old evil,” he says, expressing his sadness at “the news of the innocent blood spilled; the men, women and children whose lives were destroyed in the brutal terror attacks against the Egyptian Christian community.”
He adds: “I say to you here, our Christian brothers of Jerusalem, our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. We have all seen the pictures from Syria; I visited some of the injured being treated in Israeli hospitals. What has happened there to the Christian community — and to the whole country — is a stain on all humanity.”
And he vows that “Israel will stand firm to protect your freedom of worship, your security, and the security of your holy sites.”
President Reuven Rivlin visits with Christian leaders in Jerusalem to mark the Easter holiday, April 19, 2017. (Mark Neiman/GPO)
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
