Episcopal Press and News

Christian Leaders Meet with Arafat

Episcopal News Service. December 8, 1993 [93125G_Z]

In a recent meeting with Middle East Christian church leaders, Yassir Arafat, chairperson for the Palestine Liberation Organization, urged the thousands of Christian Palestinians scattered across the earth to return to the Holy Land. According to Greek Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem Lutfi Laham, "Arafat told us, 'You the heads of the churches, you have a very great responsibility to help bring Christians back in large numbers. Without them the holy sites will become museums.'" Laham stated that the church leaders met with Arafat "to show solidarity with the peace process and to serve the Palestinian community. We call on all Palestinians to live together in the same Palestinian house, whichever group they belong to. No one should feel excluded from peace."