Patriarch of Jerusalem and churches warn: Christian Zionism is threatening Christianity

2026-01-18 16:09:12Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
The Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III

The leaders of Christian churches in Jerusalem have issued a strong warning against what they call external interference that threatens the unity and future of Christianity in the Holy Land.

In a joint statement, the Patriarchs and church leaders expressed concern about the spread of harmful ideologies such as “Christian Zionism,” accusing political actors in Israel and abroad of promoting agendas that harm local believers.

According to them, these movements are being used to support the expansion of Israeli colonies and the confiscation of lands, thus weakening the historic Christian presence in the Middle East.

Religious leaders stressed that individuals promoting these ideologies are being welcomed at official levels, which they consider an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of churches.

They highlighted the fact that a powerful current of evangelical Christianity in the United States is providing financial and political support for the policies of the occupation, marginalizing Palestinian Christians who have lived in those lands for centuries.

This pressure is coming at a time when the community also faces high taxes and frequent settler attacks on properties and holy sites in the West Bank and Gaza.

The situation has been further aggravated by recent Israeli restrictions on education. The Presidential High Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine condemned the decision of the Israeli authorities to block work permits for teachers coming from the West Bank to East Jerusalem.

This lockdown has affected at least 171 teachers and staff, paralyzing the teaching process in many Christian schools.

Church officials described these measures as a form of collective punishment and racial discrimination, aimed at forcing the local Christian population to leave Jerusalem by weakening their educational and social institutions.


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