Palestine and Jerusalem: Bishop Addresses Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The first of the Cultural Tuesdays organized by the parish of Santi Nazario e Celso took place in a crowded Supercinema. The topic chosen for the debate was a pressing and highly relevant issue that currently holds global interest.
“Palestine, broken peace. The difficult Israeli-Palestinian coexistence” was the theme of the evening, with a distinguished guest introduced to the attentive audience by the parish priest of Castiglione, don Marino. The guest was Monsignor Kamal Hanna Bathish, auxiliary bishop of Jerusalem, an Arab Catholic from a family in Nazareth.
He made a very impactful initial remark: “I am a Palestinian Christian, and I have been working in Jerusalem for over 36 years.” He commented: “In my life, in my land, I have never known peace. We do not know what it means to live in peace, so you must understand our difficulty in achieving it.”
The bishop clarified that the reasons for the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians are religious but mainly political. He emphasized that the peace process seems endless because neither side appears willing to understand the other: “The interlocutors must understand each other – the prelate explained – They need to speak the same language.”
He then proposed a strong Christian mediation between Jews and Muslims: “We must act as intermediaries, teaching them with our love to love others, even enemies.” Firmly, he stated that Monsignor Kamal did not shy away from criticizing the Israeli governance: “If they had known how to treat Arabs with respect, as human beings with dignity, there would probably be a single state for Jews and Muslims today.”
Jerusalem’s issues
Another key point of his speech was the matter of Jerusalem, the true cause of conflict: “A holy city divided into sectors, Israeli and Palestinian, is a horror, an unacceptable proposal.” The prelate added: “Jerusalem is important for two peoples and for the three monotheistic religions. Dividing it would be a political and religious profanation.”
The bishop supported the Holy See’s position in favor of an international status for the capital of the Holy Land, possibly under the auspices of the United Nations. Monsignor Kamal did not delve into specifics but used unmistakable words: “Divided Jerusalem would be an offense to the city and to Christians, and we will never accept it.” Thus, he concluded his speech, cutting the discussion short.