The Assembly of Catholic in Europe and their counterpart from the Ordinaries of the Holy Land have strongly criticised President Trump’s Peace Plan, claiming that it does not take into consideration “The just demands of the Palestinian people for their homeland, their rights and dignified life.
“This plan will bring no solution but rather will create more tensions and probably more violence and bloodshed,” read a statement on Wednesday from the Assembly of Catholic in Europe, which is made up of representatives from 28 Member States of the European Union.
The Ordinaries of the Holy Land, on the other hand represents Christians from Latin, Melkite, Maronite, Syrian, Armenian, and Chaldean churches in communion with Rome, Muslim News findings revealed.
The Vatican believes that the deal only endorses the demands of the Israelis and has called on Christians around the world to “Pray for the Holy Land,” that a voice would be given to the voiceless.
The Catholic bishops said that the plan was one-sided in favour of Israel’s traditional demands for a two-state solution and was a “unilateral initiative” that did not involve the agreement of the Palestinians, nor respected their “equal rights and dignity.”
“It is to be considered a unilateral initiative, since it endorses almost all the demands of one side, the Israeli one, and its political agenda,” the statement read.
“On the other hand, this plan does not really take into considerations the just demands of the Palestinian people for their homeland, their rights and dignified life.”
The proposed “Peace-to-Prosperity” Plan, announced on Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outlined a path to statehood for Palestine as part of a “two-state solution.”
“Many in Palestine and in Israel feel that since the launch of the peace process, their lives have become more and more unbearable,” its statement read. “Many have left, many more consider leaving and some are resorting to violence. Some die quietly and others are losing faith and hope.”
On Wednesday, the bishops added that “we expect that previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements to be respected and improved upon.”
The assembly has previously advocated for mutual equality and respect for Palestinians in peace talks. In a May, 2019, statement, the assembly noted the urgency of a peace agreement.
Muslim News confirmed that Pope Francis used his official visit to Jerusalem in May 2014 to show his open support for the Palestinians.
He visited the Palestinians first, took a photo of at the Bethlehem security wall with graffiti accusing Israel of apartheid, openly embraced and praised Palestinian leaders for fighting to liberate their home land.
A year after the Jerusalem visit in 2015, Pope Francis announced the Vatican’s formal recognition of the “state of Palestine”, urging his members, estimated to 1.2 billion across the world, to support the Palestinian freedom and pray for peace in the Middle East.
