Vatican Urged Not To Recognize Occupation of Jerusalem

Hamas, Islamic Jihad Urge The Vatican Not To Recognize Occupation

11/06/2012

GAZA, (PIC)-- Hamas and Islamic Jihad have urged The Vatican not to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over Christian areas and churches in Jerusalem.

Hamas expressed concern, in a statement on Monday, over The Vatican step, describing it as a serious concession in favor of the Israeli occupation government that is daily violating the international law and going farther in its Judaization process.

“The Islamic and Christian holy shrines and landmarks (in Jerusalem) would remain Palestinian and Arab”, the movement said, adding that the Israeli occupation authority would never be responsible for those holy shrines.

Hamas asked The Vatican not to recognize the status quo in occupied Jerusalem, and held it responsible for consequences of its decision.

Hamas called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to immediately intervene to stop this unprecedented step and to protect the Islamic and Christian holy shrines from the IOA schemes.

For his part, Khaled Al-Batesh, an Islamic Jihad leader, rejected the proposed economic agreement between the IOA and The Vatican.

He explained in a statement on Monday that the agreement is rejected because it gives Israel legitimacy in the occupied holy city.

Batesh described The Vatican’s position as “hostile” to the Middle East Muslims and Christians, advising it to re-consider its decision and to preserve the relations of respect with the Arab and Islamic peoples.

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