Palestinian Coptic Church Denounces Israeli Police Violence

Ramallah, Oct 26 (Prensa Latina) The Council of Churches has held a vigil here on Friday condemning the conduct of the Israeli police, who used force against Coptic monks in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

On behalf of the Council of Churches, Arimandrita Elias, the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Ramallah, condemned the badault that took place last Friday and called on the international community to intervene and put pressure on Israel to protect the Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.

We will not allow these attacks to continue against our Islamic and Christian institutions in Jerusalem, and against the clergy. We reject the use of violence against any holy place, said Jamal Khader, pastor of the Holy Family Church in Ramallah.

Other Muslim politicians and secretaries, including Mahmoud Al-Habbash, religious affairs advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also participated in the vigil to condemn the Israeli badault on religious leaders in Jerusalem, also known as the Holy City.

While we condemn the police officers’ actions towards the Coptic monks, we demand Israeli authorities to be accountable to those troops and to respect people’s basic rights to freedom of expression and demonstration,’ said the Jerusalem Council of Churches.

Two days ago, churches in that city denounced Israeli police conduct with monks who demanded that officers involved in the use of force against Coptic friars must be made responsible.

rly/lrg/mgt/nvo/gdc