The argument that Jerusalem should be the undivided capital of Israel is rejected by many of the Christians who live there or in the neighboring territories. Most are ethnic Arabs, and they may feel less kinship with Jews. In a joint letter to Trump before he announced the policy change on Jerusalem, leaders of local Christian churches cautioned that it could bring "increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering."
PATRIARCHS AND HEADS
OF LOCAL CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM
___________________________________________________________________________________
President Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
Jerusalem on December 6, 2017
Dear Mr. President,
We are fully aware and appreciative of how you are dedicating special attention to the status of
Jerusalem in these days. We are following with attentiveness and we see that it is our duty to
address this letter to Your Excellency. On July 17, 2000, we addressed a similar letter to the leaders
who met in Camp David to decide the status of Jerusalem. They kindly took our letter into
consideration. Today, Mr. President, we are confident that you too will take our viewpoint into
consideration on the very important status of Jerusalem.
Our land is called to be a land of peace. Jerusalem, the city of God, is a city of peace for us and for
the world. Unfortunately, though, our holy land with Jerusalem the Holy city, is today a land of
conflict.
Those who love Jerusalem have every will to work and make it a land and a city of peace, life and
dignity for all its inhabitants. The prayers of all believers in it—the three religions and two peoples
who belong to this city—rise to God and ask for peace, as the Psalmist says: "Return to us, God
Almighty! Look down from heaven and see!" (80.14). Inspire our leaders, and fill their minds and
hearts with justice and peace.
Mr. President, we have been following, with concern, the reports about the possibility of changing
how the United States understands and deals with the status of Jerusalem. We are certain that such
steps will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land,
moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division. We ask from you
Mr. President to help us all walk towards more love and a definitive peace, which cannot be
reached without Jerusalem being for all.
Our solemn advice and plea is for the United States to continue recognizing the present
international status of Jerusalem. Any sudden changes would cause irreparable harm. We are
confident that, with strong support from our friends, Israelis and Palestinians can work towards
negotiating a sustainable and just peace, benefiting all who long for the Holy City of Jerusalem to
fulfil its destiny. The Holy City can be shared and fully enjoyed once a political process helps
liberate the hearts of all people, that live within it, from the conditions of conflict and
destructiveness that they are experiencing.
Christmas is upon us soon. It is a feast of peace. The Angels have sung in our sky: Glory to God in
the highest, and peace on earth to the people of good will. In this coming Christmas, we plea for
Jerusalem not to be deprived from peace, we ask you Mr. President to help us listen to the song of
the angels. As the Christian leaders of Jerusalem, we invite you to walk with us in hope as we build
a just, inclusive peace for all the peoples of this unique and Holy City.
With our best regards, and best wishes for a Merry Christmas.
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem
+Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
+Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate
+Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
+Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
+Archbishop Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Joseph-Jules Zerey, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate
+Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate
+Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
+Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
+Bishop Pierre Malki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
+Msgr. Georges Dankaye’, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
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