The patriarchs and heads of the Churches of Jerusalem are observing "with concern" the unilateral plans that block "any peaceful agreement". Criticism of world powers and international inertia. The "internal disputes" to the Palestinians are also targeted. Meanwhile, Israel announces thousands of new homes in the occupied territories.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - The annexation plans promoted by "factions linked to the Israeli right" raise "serious and catastrophic issues". This is what the patriarchs and heads of the Churches of Jerusalem write in a message, according to which doubts are multiplying on the feasibility "of any peaceful agreement" that could put an end to the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Christian leaders are observing with "concern" the unilateral plans, the inertia of world powers (primarily the United States and Russia) and international bodies including the UN, and too many "internal disputes" between Palestinians inside and outside the PLO.

Attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have multiplied in recent weeks, with the aim of expropriating further land. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities have announced a plan to build thousands of new homes for settlers in the occupied territories, in the context of Washington's growing support for annexation projects.

For interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the goal is to start the process by July 1 with the declaration of sovereignty over settlements and the Jordan valley. And in these days it has given the green light to 7 thousand new homes in Efrat, while on the political front we are working with American diplomacy on the project wanted by Trump with the controversial "Agreement of the century".

Here is the message from the leaders of the Churches of Jerusalem:

As a result of the stagnation of the Peace Process in the Middle East between the Israelis and Palestinians, an array of plans for Israel to unilaterally annex West Bank land, backed mainly by right-wing factions, raises serious and catastrophic questions about the feasibility of any peaceful agreement to end the decades’ long conflict, one that continues to cost many innocent lives as part of a vicious cycle of human tragedy and injustice.

The Council of Patriarchs and Heads of the Holy Land Churches views such unilateral annexation plans with the utmost concern and calls upon the State of Israel to refrain from such unilateral moves, which would bring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of the peace process.

The Council also calls upon the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the European Union, and the United Nations to respond to these unilateral annexation plans with a time-delimited and phased Peace Initiative in line with International Law and United Nations resolutions on the matter, in order to guarantee a comprehensive, just, and long-lasting peace in this part of the world that is considered Holy by the three Abrahamic Faiths.

We also call upon the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as the sole legitimate Representative of the Palestinian people, to resolve its internal disputes—as well as any conflicts with other factions that are not under its umbrella—in order to present a unified front dedicated to achieving peace and the building of a viable State that is founded upon pluralism and democratic values.

+Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate

+Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate

+Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate

+Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land

+Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem

+Vicar General Father Gabriel Daho, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate

+Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate

+Archbishop Yaser AL-Ayash, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate

+Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate

+Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East

+Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

+Father Ephram Samaan, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate

+Rt Rev. Joseph Nersès Zabarian, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate