This morning during the annual meeting of the Advisory Council to the Anglican Observer at the United Nations (ACAOUN) we received the shocking news from Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal in Jerusalem about the aggressive entry into Saint George's Cathedral, Jerusalem, by Israeli Special Polices Forces.
We join Bishop Riah in his grief and sadness that Mordecai Vanunu was taken into custody in violation of the sanctity of Saint George's Cathedral. We are especially appalled that these forces would enter the Cathedral compound while fully armed, reportedly terrorizing many tourists, pilgrims and staff members.
As members of the ACAOUN we are concerned that this is the second serious violation of the Anglican Church by Israeli Forces, the first being the guided missile attack on Saint Philip's Episcopal Church at the Ali Arab Hospital in Gaza City in January of 2003.
We join Bishop Riah in his call for the Israeli Government to stop these sacrilegious actions. We call for the respect of the sacred space in the land of the Holy One.