Message of Support to Palestinian Christian Brothers and Sisters
Greetings from the Office of the SA SYNOD – UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SOUTHERN
AFRICA!
We condemn in strongest terms the callous, insensitive and divisive pronouncement by the President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump, on Jerusalem as a capital city of the modern day state of Israel.
We found his announcement of treating Jerusalem as a capital city of the Israeli government manipulative and misleading. This utterance insinuates that Jerusalem only belongs to the State of Israel and that Palestinians are aliens in the area. Nothing could be further from the truth than President’s Trump’s dangerous insinuation. His utterances feed into the wrong notions that Palestinians are not children of Abraham hence aliens in the area.
We know that Palestinians are comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine over the centuries, including Jews and Samaritans, and who today are largely culturally and linguistically Arab. Modern Palestinian identity now encompasses the heritage of all ages from biblical times up to the Ottoman period. Jerusalem is currently being shared by all three religions, that is Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Trump’s announcement is aimed at nullifying the two states solution which is aimed at bringing peaceful solution to the Palestine / Israel political crisis.
Jerusalem is an ancient city which Jewish, Christian and Islam religions share. The current Israeli apartheid government should never be confused with the biblical children of Israel. Like the old South African apartheid government the Israeli apartheid government of today is driven by evil political ambitions and manipulating theological arguments to justify their evil acts such as
oppression, injustice and heinous crimes against Palestinian people.
The bible tells us that “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). We join all peacemakers here in South Africa and around the world such as Emeritus Bishop Desmond Tutu, South African Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, BDS, Union for Judaism Reform, South African Jews for Free Palestine, and others in condemning Trump’s announcement and we call for constructive and peaceful solutions. May the celebrations of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace bring peace and justice to Jerusalem and the people of Israel / Palestine.
We want our Israeli / Palestinian sisters and brothers to know that you are in our prayers and thoughts during these difficult times.
We humbly ask all Congregationalists and fellow ecumenical partners within South Africa Synod to hold special prayers, this coming Sunday, for restoration of peace and harmony in the area.
Yours in Christ, the Prince of Peace,
SA SYNOD-UCCSA LEADERSHIP