President Abbas: Attacks and Violations Will Not Succeed in Changing the Historical and Legal Status of the Holy Sites

SadaNews - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope today, Saturday, that the Holy Easter would mark a new beginning filled with hope, and that peace and love would prevail in Palestine and the world.

This was stated in a message addressed to Theophilus III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, as well as to the representatives of the council and priests of Saint Jacob's Orthodox Cathedral and the community leaders, and the members of the Arab Orthodox congregation, on the occasion of the Holy Easter.

President Abbas said: "Our people love life and their homeland, and they hold religious holidays sacred, and we will commemorate this dear religious occasion, holding onto hope and faith in God and our legitimate rights, despite the escalating violations of the occupation, including settlement expansion, settler terrorism, land theft and confiscation, economic restrictions, the isolation of the holy city, the prevention of prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the closure of the Church of the Resurrection, and St. Jacob's Cathedral before the believers, denying them their sacred right to pray, especially during the holidays."

He emphasized that these attacks and violations will not succeed in changing the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city of Jerusalem, and that the Palestinian people, and the world, will not accept them.

He expressed his hope for a complete cessation of the war on the Gaza Strip, the end of the suffering of our Palestinian people, and the return of life to normal there, hoping that a phase of recovery and reconstruction will begin, with Palestinian, Arab, and international efforts, unifying the torn homeland, and moving towards a political solution in accordance with international legitimacy that ends the occupation and establishes an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem.

On this day, the day of the mournful Friday, the path of suffering that our people are going through is manifested, yet this sacred occasion instills in our souls confidence in the victory of truth and justice, and the removal of injustice, God willing.

He appreciated the positions and messages of the Patriarchs and leaders of the churches in Jerusalem on this good occasion, considering their message a call for justice, peace, love, and human brotherhood.

He also called on the churches of the world to stand by the Palestinian legitimate right, alongside their brothers, the esteemed and high-ranking officials in the land of resurrection and ascension, to unite efforts to bring peace to our region and the world, to strengthen the presence of this authentic Christian community in our homeland, and may God preserve it and our people, leading to freedom, independence, and peace for all.