OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Higher Presidential Committee for Churches Affairs in Palestine warned of the escalating dangers threatening the authentic Palestinian Christian existence in the Holy Land, in light of the continuation of the Israeli occupation policies based on settlement expansion, land seizure, and restricting development.
The committee sent a letter to the heads of churches in the world, in which it warned of the dangerous repercussions of a decision issued by the Israeli Security Cabinet approving the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, including six settlements in Bethlehem Governorate, in addition to allocating more than 2.3 billion shekels to accelerate the implementation of the settlement project, transport settlers, and establish the necessary infrastructure to consolidate these new settlements.
It stressed that the decision represents an advanced stage of a systematic policy aiming to impose permanent facts on the occupied Palestinian land, which enhances the annexation project and undermines the chances of peace.
It explained that the settlement plans in Bethlehem Governorate, where Jesus Christ was born, target expanding and connecting settlement blocs and isolating the cities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour from their Palestinian surroundings, in addition to seizing more lands, including agricultural lands owned by Palestinian Christian families.
The committee emphasized that the settlement project is not limited to urban expansion, but rather aims to reshape the geographical and demographic conditions of the occupied Palestinian land, through connecting settlements with road and service networks and consolidating their existence.
It considered these measures a flagrant violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, and contradict the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 2024.
The committee called on the heads of churches in the world to assume their spiritual, historical, and moral responsibilities, and to take a clear position rejecting settlement expansion, annexation policies, and imposing de facto conditions.
It also demanded defending international law and working to protect the Holy Land and preserve the authentic Palestinian Christian existence, which contributes to achieving a just peace that guarantees freedom, dignity, and legitimate rights for the Palestinian people.
