We stand in solidarity with the Holy Land’s Christian community and oppose the unjust Nation State Law passed by the Israeli Knesset earlier this year.
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As the local Catholic ordinaries explained in their recent statement, this law creates a constitutional and legal basis for discriminatory treatment of Israel’s citizens on both ethnic and religious grounds.
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We have seen first-hand the daily struggles faced by Palestinian Christians living in the state of Israel and recognise that these will only be exacerbated by the Nation State Law.
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The international community including our own government has a duty to stand against such divisive legislation, which will not only undermine the rights of already vulnerable communities but will also damage the democratic character of Israel itself.
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We pray at this time for all peoples of the Holy Land.
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Rt Rev Declan Lang
Bishop of Clifton (Chair of the Holy Land Coordination)
Rt Rev Christopher Chessun
Anglican Bishop of Southwark
