Hamas, Islamic Jihad urge The Vatican not to recognize
Hamas, Islamic Jihad urge The Vatican not to recognize occupation
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.