{"id":4880,"date":"2006-08-25T20:21:00","date_gmt":"2006-08-25T17:21:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-12-14T19:12:48","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T17:12:48","slug":"epalestine-statement-by-patriarch-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/2006\/08\/epalestine-statement-by-patriarch-and\/","title":{"rendered":"[ePalestine] Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISM"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear friends,<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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Another statement that deserves to be distributed at your local places of warship.  Ask you local paper to reprint.  Source is listed at end.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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Pleading for local action to mushroom,<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Sam<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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————————<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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August 22, 2006<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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"THE JERUSALEM DECLARATION ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISM"  <\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem  <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)  <\/em><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ’s love and justice today. We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their unilateral pre-emptive borders and domination over Palestine. This inevitably leads to unending cycles of violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and the rest of the world.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by Jesus Christ. Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations!  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We call upon Christians in Churches on every continent to pray for the Palestinian and Israeli people, both of whom are suffering as victims of occupation and militarism. These discriminative actions are turning Palestine into impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli settlements. The establishment of the illegal settlements and the construction of the Separation Wall on confiscated Palestinian land undermines the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and security in the entire region.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We call upon all Churches that remain silent, to break their silence and speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following principles as an alternative way:  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We affirm that all people are created in the image of God. In turn they are called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their inalienable rights.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are capable of living together within peace, justice and security.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We affirm that Palestinians are one people, both Muslim and Christian. We reject all attempts to subvert and fragment their unity.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of others.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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We are committed to non-violent resistance as the most effective means to end the illegal occupation in order to attain a just and lasting peace.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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God demands that justice be done. No enduring peace, security or reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued diligently and persistently but non-violently.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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"What does the Lord require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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This is where we take our stand. We stand for justice. We can do no other. Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our Land. By standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace – and working for peace makes us children of God.  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:19)  <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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His Beattitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah<\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem  <\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n


\n <\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad,<\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem<\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n


\n <\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal,<\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East<\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n


\n <\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Bishop Munib Younan,<\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land<\/strong><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

August 22, 2006<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

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http:\/\/www.j-diocese.com\/DiocesanNews\/view.asp?selected=238#slbl238<\/span><\/font><\/a><\/p>\n

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———————————————————————–<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Everything about this list:<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

http:\/\/lists.riseup.net\/www\/info\/epalestine<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

To unsubscribe, send mail to:<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

epalestine-unsubscribe@lists.riseup.net<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

To subscribe, send mail to:<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

epalestine-subscribe@lists.riseup.net<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear friends, Another statement that deserves to be distributed at your local places of warship.  Ask you local paper to reprint.  Source is listed at end. Pleading for local action to mushroom, Sam ———————— August 22, 2006 "THE JERUSALEM DECLARATION ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISM"  Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem  "Blessed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[936],"class_list":["post-4880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"authors":[{"term_id":936,"user_id":4,"is_guest":0,"slug":"sambahour","display_name":"Sam Bahour","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bca109c333bf6d8ae807746dd512adde46265d37c923f6cd0fc4aab437f8e9aa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"1","first_name":"Sam","last_name":"Bahour","user_url":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour","job_title":"","description":"

Sam Bahour<\/strong> is a Palestinian-American business consultant, writer, and commentator based in Al-Bireh\/Ramallah, Palestine. He is the principal of Applied Information Management (AIM)<\/a>, a consultancy specializing in business development and startup advisory services.<\/p>\r\n

Bahour was instrumental in establishing two of Palestine\u2019s publicly traded companies: the Palestine Telecommunications Company (PALTEL) and the Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers (APSC). He co-founded Americans for a Vibrant Palestinian Economy (A4VPE), of which he is now an emeritus member, and served as an independent director on the board of Arab Islamic Bank P.L.C. from 2004 to 2025. He currently serves on the board of Just Vision<\/a> and The Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS)<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

He frequently gives talks to delegations visiting Palestine on the subjects of Palestine\u2019s political economy, Palestinian Politics 101, and a general orientation to the state of affairs under Israeli military occupation.<\/p>\r\n

A prolific writer on Palestinian affairs, Bahour has been published in major international outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, Haaretz, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera America, Le Monde diplomatique, Al-Monitor, +972 Magazine, The Hill, and Arab News. He has appeared as a commentator on NPR, CNN, BBC, and other broadcast media.<\/p>\r\n

Bahour is the co-editor of Homeland: Oral Histories of Palestine and Palestinians<\/a><\/em> (Olive Branch Press, 1993) and was profiled in the bestselling anthology Kingdom of Olives and Ash<\/a><\/em>, edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, in a chapter authored by Chabon titled \u201cThe Tallest Man in Ramallah<\/a>.\u201d He holds an Associate\u2019s and Bachelor\u2019s degree in Computer Technology from Youngstown State University, and a Kellogg-Recanati International Executive MBA \u2014 a joint program of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Recanati Business School at Tel Aviv University.<\/p>\r\n

He tweets at @SamBahour<\/a>, blogs at www.epalestine.ps<\/a>, and may be reached at sbahour[AT]gmail[DOT]com.<\/p>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4880"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4880\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4880"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epalestine.ps\/sambahour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=4880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}