An extremely unprecedented dangerous measure

Friends,

It is the first time since the fourth century in which Christians of Faith were prevented from performing the Sunday mass in the Church of nativity. Yesterday April 7, The Israeli occupation forces prevented people of Christian faith from arriving into the Church of Nativity to attend the Sunday service. This unprecedented move from the side of the Israeli occupation forces is an extreme violation to International law and norms.

We strongly condemn this extreme and highly threatening procedure. We as well condemn the siege of the Birth Place of our Lord Jesus Christ. We as well strongly condemn the acts of killings of innocent civilians, the arrestment of hundreds of innocent people, the destruction and vandalizing of the ancient parts of our beloved city. This city of peace, which hoisted many of the world political and religious leaders including his holiness the Pope, during its Bethlehem 2000 celebrations.

Please raise your voices with ours calling for an end to the Israeli occupation. Let us work together to lift the siege and insure that no one will think again of attacking our holy shrines.

Signed by:

The Charitable Antwanian Society
The Orthodox Charitable society-Bethlehem
The Orthodox Charitable society-Beit Sahour
Mar Afram Charitable Society
The Latin Monastery-Bethlehem
Bethlehem International Center.
Dar AlKalemah Academy
The House of the Cardinal
The Arab Orthodox Club-Beit Jala
The Arab Orthodox Club-Beit Sahour
The Latin Monastery-Beit Sahour
The Latin Monastery-Beit Jala
The Roman Catholic Monastery-Bethlehem.
The Roma Catholic Monastery-Beit Sahour
The Roman Catholic Monastery-Beit Jala
The Evangelical Lutheran Church-Bethlehem
The Evangelical Lutheran Church-Beit Sahour
The Evangelical Lutheran Church-Beit Jala
YMCA-Beit Sahour
The Bible College-Bethlehem.
The Catholic work Institute.
The Greek Orthodox Church-Bethlehem
The Greek Orthodox Church-Beit Sahour
The Greek Orthodox Church-Beit Jala
PCR

The Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People
64 Star Street, P.O.Box 24
Beit Sahour - Palestine
www.rapprochement.org
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The center is a non-profit making NGO, started in 1988 during the first Intifada.
PCR runs community service programs, youth empowerment and training programs.
PCR is also very much involved in the non-violent resistance against the Israeli Occupation to Palestine.