“We Christians of Palestine have been under occupation for many long years” – Fr. Musallam in Gaza

Easter message to the international community. Fr Manuel Musallam

“We Christians of Palestine have been under occupation for many long years. We’ve been suffering with bitterness at being kept away from the Holy Sites. We’ve been denied our right to worship in Jerusalem. Many Christian generations have never been able to reach Jerusalem to visit its holy places."

The occupation has been continuously imposing unlawful obstacles. This year, we are confronted by the Israeli Apartheid Separation Wall, checkpoints and roadblocks guarded by Israeli soldiers denying us movement and access to Jerusalem.

All these measures not only suffocate the Palestinian people, but also asphyxiate peace in Israel and Palestine.
Every stone built in the Apartheid Wall, every axe strike digging under the Al-Aqsa Mosque and every house destroyed by Israel will increase the intensity of resistance and resentfulness.

Palestinians have been building and enhancing Jerusalem for 5,000 years and never stopped – except during the occupation, which has practically destroyed everything they had accomplished.

Jerusalem was the city of God, peace and prayer, but has been converted into a city of man, war and hatred. Instead of becoming the key to the doors of heaven, it has become a key to war and blood.”

From the Easter message of Palestinian priest Fr Manuel Musallam, who recently retired at the age of 71 after serving as the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza for 14 years.

Ful-length report by Stuart Littlewood at Ramallah Online 30 MArch 2010