He told The Daily Star that HCEF run by a Palestinian-American, Rateb Rabie has the all-important objective of bringing the Christian Palestinians in the diaspora "together to coordinate their capacities and to keep their link alive with the Holy Land ... to help those who remain there."
There are about 50,000 Palestinians living in the Palestinian areas, in the West Bank and Gaza City. There are an additional 150,000 Christians in Israel, primarily in the Galilee area. Jerusalem has a Christian Palestinian population of 10,000.
There are about 50,000 Palestinians living in the Palestinian areas, in the West Bank and Gaza City. There are an additional 150,000 Christians in Israel, primarily in the Galilee area. Jerusalem has a Christian Palestinian population of 10,000.
Sabbah admitted that his "big worry" nowadays is primarily
"to have justice in the Holy Land."
He emphasized that "once we have justice we will have bread. We have no justice; we have neither bread nor justice that's our problem."
He went on to paint a grim picture of life under Israeli rule in the Occupied Territories.
"This difficult situation of war, peace and curfews is tiring, (prompting) many to leave the country. Muslims, Christians and even Jews are leaving; some 50,000 Jews, I was told,
"to have justice in the Holy Land."
He emphasized that "once we have justice we will have bread. We have no justice; we have neither bread nor justice that's our problem."
He went on to paint a grim picture of life under Israeli rule in the Occupied Territories.
"This difficult situation of war, peace and curfews is tiring, (prompting) many to leave the country. Muslims, Christians and even Jews are leaving; some 50,000 Jews, I was told,
have left Israel in the last two years. However, only 1,000 or 2,000 Christians have left, yet this is a high figure when you compare their total population (of 50,000).
"If instability persists, more and more will leave," he added. "And if this situation military actions, house demolitions, killings and assassinations continues, we will have four or five years more (here)."
Patriarch Sabbah predicted that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would be re-elected in next year's national elections because, so far, he has no serious rivals:
"If instability persists, more and more will leave," he added. "And if this situation military actions, house demolitions, killings and assassinations continues, we will have four or five years more (here)."
Patriarch Sabbah predicted that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would be re-elected in next year's national elections because, so far, he has no serious rivals: