In The Faith - A Chronicle of the Christian Faith

Although excluded from the formal Middle East Peace negotiations, Christian churches are lobbying for a special international status for the Old City of Jerusalem, according to the Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, Fr Giovanni Battistelli.

Speaking to The Sunday Times during a two-day private visit to Malta last week, he explained that “together with the representatives of other Christian churches present in the Holy Land, I have held talks with Israeli ministers and President Yasser Arafat - although so far, our request to see the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been refused. However, Mr Sharon telephoned all of us last Christmas to say that if he won a second mandate, we would be happily surprised at developments.”

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Filed under: Missions