His Most Godly Beatitude Theophilus III, who is touring the UK said that rules protecting the rights of Jews and Christians to live together and access holy places, are being undermined.
In a statement recorded at Premier, he explained what had prompted his visit.
He said: “We have been mandated by all the church leaders in the holy land to share our story and raise awareness of the challenges we are facing as a Christian community in Jerusalem.
“Recently we have seen the emergence of a trend that threatens to undermine the Christian presence and destabilise the peace of the holy city of Jerusalem.
“The ‘status quo’ rules, that has guaranteed the rights of Jews, Christians and Muslims to live, flourish and thrive together in Jerusalem for centuries is in grave danger. This code, that has safeguarded our religious freedoms and provided access to the most holy places for all people, is being dangerously undermined.”
He said members of the national legislature of Israel (Knesset), last July signed a proposed bill for debate in the Israeli parliament, which if passed, will severely restrict the rights of the Churches to deal freely and independently with their lands. He added that it could also lead to their land being confiscated.
Spokesperson for the Patriarch, ambassador Partick Theros, told Premier’s News Hour how bad the situation for Christians in Jerusalem is.
He said: “In the last couple of decades, a small but very vociferous and very well connected…
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