Thirteen Christian leaders in Jerusalem have appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and warned of the ‘hatred, conflict, violence and suffering’ and ‘irreparable harm’ that a change in American policy on Jerusalem could create.
Trump announced that the United States would officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city and eventually move its embassy there from its current location in Tel Aviv.
The last-minute plea to Trump came in the form of a letter on Wednesday, the day the announcement was made.
“We have been following, with concern, the reports about the possibility of changing how the United States understands and deals with the status of Jerusalem,” the letter said.
“We are certain that such steps will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division.
“We ask from you, Mr President, to help us all walk towards more love and a definitive peace, which cannot be reached without Jerusalem being for all.”
The letter goes on, “Our solemn advice and plea is for the US to continue recognizing the present international status of Jerusalem. Any sudden changes would cause irreparable harm.”
The letter is signed by the heads of the Greek, Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopian and Coptic Orthodox patriarchates, the Latin church, the Franciscan Order, the Greek-Melkite-Catholic patriarchate, the Maronites, the Episcopal Church, the Armenian and Syrian Catholic churches and the Evangelical Lutherans.
The complete letter sent to Trump by the religious leaders is here.
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