PLO slams Greek Orthodox patriarch for praising Israel

PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi issues a statement condemning Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos for praising Israel’s freedom of worship.

“We are seriously concerned by the statement of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, who praised Israel for being a ‘democracy’ that ‘respects freedom of worship.’ Theophilos III is very well informed of the Israeli violations of the freedom to worship of his own community during Easter and is also aware of the occupation of the Saint John Convent nearby the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, today turned into another illegal Israeli settlement,” she says, presumably referring to the Jerusalem municipality’s approval of one building permit for a Jewish structure in the Silwan neighborhood.

“Theophilos III is also well aware of the impact of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem on the Palestinian people in general, and on the Christian population in particular. His statement could only be delivered by someone who aims at distorting reality by disregarding the rights and aspirations of his own congregation,” she says.

“We call upon Patriarch Theophilos III to work for justice and peace of the oppressed rather than covering up the daily violations of the oppressors.”