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Statement by the Committee of the Christian Union of Palestine

Statement by the Committee of the Christian Union of Palestine

Addressed to All World Religious and Political Bodies

Jerusalem, 3 March 1948

The painful and regrettable situation now prevailing in Palestine has prompted representatives of all Christian Communities of the various denominations to hold a joint meeting for the purpose of discussing the abnormal position which the country has reached, realizing, as they did, their responsibilities towards members of their respective communities, spiritually, morally and materially. The meeting was attended by representatives of:-

The Orthodox Patriarchate,

The Latin Patriarchate,

The Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate,

The Custodian de Terra Sancta,

The Coptic Patriarchate,

The Vicar of the Melkite Patriarchate,

Metropolitan of the Syriac Orthodox Community,

The Arab Evangelical Episcopal Community,

The Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate,

The Arab Lutheran Community in Palestine.

Having given careful consideration to the situation now prevailing in Palestine, they decided to address this statement to all world religious and political bodies, in which they seek to give expression to their deep sorrow and strong indignation at the lamentable situation in which the Holy Land, the cradle of peace, has been placed as a direct result of the erroneous policy which has been imposed on the country and which has culminated in the partition plan.

It is our firm conviction that peace will not be restored nor would any endeavours made for the promotion of the "peace of Jerusalem" be crowned with success unless those bodies who undertake the determination of the future of Palestine would remove the causes which had made a battlefield of the Holy Land, reestablish the principles of justice and maintain the right of self-determination as envisaged in the charter of the United Nations Organization.

The Christian Union wishes to declare, in unequivocal terms, that they denounce the partition plan, being of the strong conviction that this plan involves a violation of the sacredness of the Holy Land which, by its nature and history, is indivisible and represents an encroachment on the natural rights of the Arabs, the people of the country.

The Christian Union wishes further to declare that any attempt to enforce the erroneous policy by force will inevitably be doomed to failure, for 'right' is a stronger weapon than 'might'.

In view of our close contact with the various classes of our communities, we deem it our duty to draw the attention of all responsible authorities to the fact that the Christian Community in Palestine of all denominations is in complete agreement, in principle and deed, with their Moslem Brethren in their endeavours to resist and ward-off any violation of their rights or any encroachment on their country.

 

(Signature) Representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

(Signature) Representative of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate.

(Signature) Representative of the Coptic Patriarchate.

(Signature) Representative of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate.

(Signature) Representative of the Latin Patriarchate.

(Signature) Representative of the Melkite Patriarchate.

(Signature) Representative of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate.

(Signature) Representative of the Custodian de Terra Sancta.

(Signature) Vicar of the Syriac Cathol. Patriarchate.

(Signature) Chairman of the Arab Evangelical Episc. Community in Palestine and Trans-Jordan.

(Signature) Representative of the Arab Lutheran Community.

 

Source: Newsletter. no. 19 (April 1959), published by the Palestine Arab Refugee Office, New York, as republished by Muhammad Khalil, ed.  The Arab States and the Arab League:  A Documentary Record. vol. II. Beirut: Khayats, 1962, p. 551-552.