I was about to suggest that if the Jerusalem Church leaders were little wooden puppets, they would have very, very long noses by now, but let’s be charitable. Perhaps they are entering their dotage and forgetting where they left their slippers, whether they’ve had their dinner or not today, and the recent history of the country they inhabit.

On Pentecost Sunday, Church leaders of Jerusalem issued the following statement about the anniversary: "This year marks the 40th anniversary of occupation by the Israelis of land previously held by Palestinians. It is totally unacceptable for the situation to continue where the Palestinians endure daily hardships and humiliations with deprivations of international human rights, allegedly to ensure the safety and security of the Israelis, whereas we believe the security of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice of the Palestinians."

As The Reformed Pastor put it in Hierarchs to Israel: Let Hamas Handle Security

The hierarchs’ statement can be found here ; since it’s in scanned PDF format and I don’t feel like re-typing the whole thing, I’ll just include a bit that gives the flavor:

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Occupation by the Israelis of land previously held by the Palestinians.

Actually, it was held by the Jordanians and Egyptians. These guys don’t even remember events that they lived through.

Meanwhile, Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah is not only forgetful of the past, but does not seem aware of what is happening around him now.

Almost eight weeks earlier, Patriarch Sabbah, in an April 3 Easter message, said that Israel must have the courage to end the occupation of the Palestinian people and allow healing to begin “in our land, in the region and in the world.”

Acknowledging the fear of Israelis that “wants to see the Palestinians as terrorists or as incapable of assuring security,” Patriarch Sabbah said that that fear has immobilized the Holy Land from breaking the cycle of dysfunction and has led to “several worldwide phenomena (that) have arisen in the world as a direct or indirect consequence.”

Yet, he said, that dysfunction will continue until the occupation continues.

Israel ceased its ‘occupation’ of Gaza, and removed the Settlers, whose presence was blamed for everything and see how peace has broken out there as a result! No dysfunctional behaviour in Gaza now, is there, Patriarch?