Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog called for the protection of Christian communities and shrines in the Holy Land

Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog has expressed grave concern over the mass exodus of young Christian families from the country and called for increased protection of Christian communities and their holy sites in the Holy Land. The statement was made on January 12 at the annual Christmas and New Year reception for representatives of Christian denominations, which was held at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. According to the press service of the Israeli government, the meeting was attended by Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem, heads and representatives of Christian churches of the Holy Land, as well as representatives of government agencies.

In his speech, President Herzog emphasized the alarming trend of emigration of Christians, noting that it is a cause for concern and requires attention from the authorities. The Head of State stated, “This is their home – just as it is my home and our common home,” emphasizing that Christians should feel welcome and safe. President Herzog reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the principles of religious freedom and pledged to continue to protect religious sites and to oppose any form of pressure or persecution of believers.

For his part, Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem pointed to a number of serious challenges facing Christian communities. According to the press service of the Patriarchate, the Primate of the Jerusalem Church noted the growing hostility on the part of radical groups in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In addition, he touched upon the problem of crime and violence in the northern regions of Israel. According to the Patriarch, it is necessary to develop effective mechanisms that would allow communities living nearby to coexist in conditions of mutual respect and security.

Patriarch Theophilus also expressed hope that the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be a step towards a lasting and lasting peace. He emphasized the readiness of Christian churches to continue their humanitarian and peacemaking mission in the region.

Recall, earlier we reported that the Israeli authorities introduced new rules for humanitarian organizations working in the Gaza Strip, effectively restricting the activities of 37 international structures, including a number of Christian ones. Human rights activists and church representatives warn that these requirements could jeopardize the lives of Palestinian employees, which is a matter of serious concern.