Jerusalem Church leaders met Tuesday with US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, two progressive Democrats, at the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, according to a statement from the patriarchate.
Patriarch Theophilos III, together with the leaders of the Armenian, Franciscan, Latin, and Anglican Churches, shared the concerns of the Christian communities in the region, including their grave distress over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the wellbeing of Christians in the Strip, the plight of Christians in the West Bank and issue related to tax disputes over Christian properties in Israel with the countries authorities.
Van Hollen and Merkley are among senators who have recently supported resolutions aimed at blocking arms sales to Israel.
According to Palestinian news agency WAFA, Van Hollen and Merkley also met Tuesday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his deputy Hussein al-Sheikh in Ramallah.
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