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Writes Lovemore Chazingwa
The State of Palestine has demonstrated protection and recognition of all religions without discrimination as it condemns the spitting on non-Jews, especially Christians and tourists.
Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E Dr Tamer Almassri made the statement in a media communique today.
“The State of Palestine condemns the continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian Holy Sites under Israeli occupation forces protection. This was followed by extremist settlers ‘spitting on non-Jews’ especially, Christian citizens and tourists. Attacks against Christians have doubled this year, and not just spitting, but throwing stones, vandalizing Christian signs and symbols, attempting to burn churches, preventing Christians from attending religious ceremonies like Christmas and Easter.”
The chief emissary further said this was a well-orchestrated move to change the status quo in the illegal occupation mission.
“The State of Palestine stresses that these attacks fall within the framework of the Israeli government’s attempt to Judaize Jerusalem, a reflection of the culture of illegal occupation encompassed by apartheid, hatred, and racism that is perpetrated by Israeli senior government officials, extreme religious schools, whose followers are proud of practicing this derogatory behaviour.”
Amb. Almassri warned of far-reaching repurcations as a result of actions by Israeli authorities, which may lead to blood baths.
“These provocations by the Israeli occupation authorities and the settlers are a dangerous approach aimed at detonating the situation which will lead to dangerous repercussions whose results no one can predict. The rising intolerance by extreme Israeli settlers that violates Israel’s stated commitment to freedom of worship begins with spitting and may then turn into hitting and killing of non-Jews, especially Christians.”
He said attempts to change the status quo in the occupied territories could precipitate deeper instability and insecurity in the face of the fight for sovereignty by the State of Palestine.
“The Israeli occupation authorities are trying to create new realities in East Jerusalem. Palestine stresses that the apartheid occupation government must know very well that Jerusalem with its sanctity is a Palestinian Arab land, and all its attempts will fail to change the nature, history, and identity of Jerusalem. There will be no security and stability without sovereignty and the approval of the Palestinian people and its leadership.”