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Saving Christianity from itself By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Jerusalem, christians Israel's responsibility for the holy places in Jerusalem sometimes involves it in disputes and power struggles between religious communities. There is no better example than the centuries-old dispute between the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church over the control of the Deir al-Sultan Monastery on the roof of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City. According to Christian tradition, Deir al-Sultan (the sultan's monastery) was part of the ninth stop on the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus took to his crucifixion. The Ethiopians and Copts fought over this sacred site and all the governments that ruled here were forced to deal with the dispute. In the days of Ottoman, British and Jordanian rule in East Jerusalem, the Copts received preferential treatment. At Easter 1970, under Israeli rule, when the Copts went to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Ethiopian monks took advantage of the situation and changed the locks at the entrances to Deir al-Sultan. The Israeli police posted at the site to prevent violent clashes did not intervene, and since then the Ethiopians have controlled the monastery. Advertisement Over the years several attempts have been made to settle the dispute and a special ministerial committee was set up for this purpose. Israel was required to take into consideration its sensitive relations with Ethiopia and Egypt, where the Coptic Church is based. But the situation did not change and experts say there is no chance of reaching an agreement between the rival churches. The problem is that structures at Deir al-Sultan are deteriorating. At the beginning of the week, Haaretz cited a report of an engineer hired by the Ethiopian Church who described "an emergency situation" at the site. He warned that the structures were in danger of collapse, which would jeopardize monks' and visitors' lives and damage the Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself. The Ethiopian patriarch told Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and Jerusalem Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan of the building's condition and warned them of the danger. The Interior Ministry suggested renovating the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the ministry's expense four years ago, but conditioned this on an agreement between the Ethiopians and Copts. No agreement was reached and the Ethiopian patriarch even objected to it explicitly in his approach to the ministers. Due to the risk to the lives of the monks and visitors and the danger to one of the world's holiest sites, the government must not neglect the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It must exercise its authority to maintain public safety and repair the building, taking great care not to intervene or take a stand in the fundamental dispute between the churches. Such an intervention has precedents: In 1919 and 1927, under British rule, the Jerusalem municipality carried out vital repairs in Deir al-Sultan, then in the Copts' hands. Mayor Uri Lupolianski has said he would try to mediate between the churches. Even with good will, it is hard to see Lupolianski resolving such an ancient dispute. He would be better off working out with the government how best to save the Christian holy site from collapse, drawing on precedents and consulting with the Egyptian and Ethiopian governments. Bookmark to del.icio.us   One step closer Labor Party, Kadima sign coalition agreement after 18 hours of discussion. After the clashes Police arrest driver who sparked Acre riots for 'harming religious sensitivities'.   1.   Regarding the article of "Saving christianity from itself" 04:59  |  Baraki 14/10/08

Read & React Sources: Hamas has raised price of Shalit deal in wake of Kuntar release Responses: 83 Police arrest driver who sparked Acre riots for 'harming religious sensitivities' Responses: 207 Don't believe your banker when he says he's sleeping well Responses: 3 Akiva Eldar: Improved living standards won't turn Israel's Arabs into lovers of Jews Responses: 26 More Headlines 01:09 Labor Party, Kadima sign coalition agreement 01:14 Peres in Acre: We have many religions, but one set of laws 01:18 Police arrest driver who sparked Acre riots for 'harming religious sensitivities' 19:34 Sources: Hamas has raised price of Shalit deal in wake of Kuntar release 14:11 Netanyahu to Shas: Don't join Livni, she'll give up Jerusalem 18:52 ANALYSIS / A partnership based on mutual suspicion 18:54 N.Y. synagogues feel holiday pinch as financial crisis wears on congregants 15:23 Israel seals off West Bank ahead of Sukkot holiday 23:28 43-year-old man shot and killed in downtown Ramle 22:20 Egyptian border guards shoot migrant dead at Egypt-Israel border 06:38 Hebrew University makes The Times' list of 100 top schools 13:33 Angry and confused, Acre residents wonder how everyday life will go on 04:58 VIDEO / TASE defies grim forecasts, ends day with moderate losses 11:53 Conspiracy theory faults Jews for Lehman Brothers' collapse Previous Editions Select Day 13 oct 12 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 06 oct 05 oct 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep

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