Posted on: 2000

By Fr. Majdi al-Siryani

The issue of the position of the Jerusalemite Christian Community becomes known at the negotiations between Israel and the PLO in the Camp David 2 negotiations.

Here are some points that were touched in a letter from the Jerusalem Patriarchs to President Clinton, Barak and Arafat on July 17, 2000 concerning the position of Christians  on sovereignty issue.

The Christians of Jerusalem follow with great concern and interest the report of the Camp David negotiations and especially the issue of Jerusalem and its final status.

The Christians of Jerusalem are Palestinians too. Christians of the Holy Land come from various origins having gone through many historical changes and peoples movements- they  form an integral part of the Palestinian people.

Christians were born to Palestine nationals on Palestinian soil, thus we are Palestinian nationals regardless of Israel occupation and, on the other hand, no one is trying to exclude us or revoke our Palestinian nationality.

This is why we reiterate that it is an obligation / right to be under one’s own people’s sovereignty and this is what any  Palestinian- again regardless of religious affiliation- would opt for.

Their concern about Jerusalem goes beyond the city as the Christian Holy City, it is a tie that is deep and strong.

Jerusalem is the heart of their nationalistic interest and concern. Christians are concerned about the territorial sovereignty. They consider the East Jerusalem as an Arab Palestinian  City and they hope it will be the capital of the Palestinian State. On the other hand, concerning the religious dimension of Jerusalem, they believe that Jerusalem is holy for Christians, Jews and Muslims.