Anglican Communion News Service

Declaration of the joint meeting of Muslim Imams and Bishops and Clergy of the different denominations of the churches in Egypt

Dr. Fawzy El Zefzaf & Dr. Ali El Simman, the Deputies of the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Dr. Said Tantawi together with Bishop Mouneer H. Anis of the Anglican Church in Egypt and North Africa, Bishop Yohanna Kolta representing Patriarch Estaphenous II of the Roman Catholic Church in Egypt and Bishop Moses representing Pope Shenouda III, the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt met on Tuesday 24th October 2000 in Al Azhar and they chaired a meeting that was attended by Imams and Clergies from all different denominations. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the sad situation in Jerusalem and other parts of Palestine.

The following statement was the result of this meeting:

Out of the common human values between Islam and Christianity which defend human dignity and rights, Al Azhar and the Christian Churches in Egypt reject the aggression of Israel on the Palestinians and their properties and the unjust and murders of the innocent.

We Muslim and Christian leaders reject and denounce the inhuman practices of the Israeli Army on Islamic and Christian Holy places in the Palestinian cities especially El Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

We, the Islamic and Christian leaders agreed unanimously that all the Israeli aggressive practices against the Palestinians is against all human rights, religions and all International Laws.

We plead to all Nations and Governments of the world and all International Organizations to intervene immediately to stop the Israeli wild attacks on Palestinians and to withdraw from the occupied territories allowing the Palestinians to have their rights in resisting Israeli occupation and establishing their independent country with Jerusalem as its capital.

We appeal to the leaders of the Arab and Islamic and all Nations, Governments all over the world, the leaders of the Churches and international organizations that work in human relief to offer their urgent humanitarian help and support to the Palestinians as they face all kinds of humiliation and starvation by the Israeli Government."