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Michel Sabbah, Jerusalem's Roman Catholic leader, answering questions Wednesday after his annual Christmas message in Jerusalem. (AP)
Last update - 17:14 19/12/2007
Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch rejects Israel's Jewish identity
By News Agencies
Tags: Christianity, Israel 

Israel's identity as a Jewish state discriminates against non-Jews, the Holy Land's top Roman Catholic clergyman said in a pre-Christmas address on Wednesday.

"If there's a state of one religion, other religions are naturally discriminated against," Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah told reporters at the annual press conference he holds in Jerusalem before the Christian holiday.

In his address, which he read in Arabic and English, Sabbah said Israel should abandon its Jewish character in favor of a political, normal state for Christians, Muslims and Jews.
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"This land cannot be exclusive for anyone," he said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said Israel provides full religious freedom to people of all faiths.

"We reject his claim that other religions are not enjoying equal rights in Israel," Mekel said.

With his statements Wednesday, Sabbah, a longtime advocate of the Palestinian cause, waded into a debate that has marred the fledgling peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

He said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had unleashed "forces of evil" across the Middle East and it was up to Israel to relaunch the peace process.

"I hope we are entering into a new phase with Annapolis," Sabbah saud. "The one who will decide is Israel. If Israel decides for peace, there will be peace."

"Until now, there has been no peace, simply because there has been no willingness to make it," he added.

Israel has defined itself as the homeland of the Jewish people since it was established in 1948. The Palestinians, however, refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, saying that would mean Palestinian refugees who lost their homes after Israel's creation would not have the right to return.

Sabbah, who has been the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 1987, is the first Palestinian to hold the post and is frequently critical of Israel.

"He also lashed out at Israel for visa restrictions he said were unfair to Christian clergy. A state in this land must...be open to welcoming to all believers of other religions," he said.

According to the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, there are an estimated 170,000 Christians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

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  3.   Israel and Islamic Republics 15:18  |  T A sheppard 19/12/07
  4.   Sent this Catholic jerk packing,he thinks its Middle Ages 15:22  |  Absolute Sweden 19/12/07
  5.   Wait and See thee Responses to This One!!?? 15:22  |  Yaakov Sullivan 19/12/07
  6.   Latin Patriarch 15:25  |  Carl 19/12/07
  7.   Finally, a Moderate Voice 15:25  |  POP 19/12/07
  8.   peace and justice 15:26  |  gearoid 19/12/07
  9.   actually...read the Bible 15:27  |  Jewish State 19/12/07
  10.   Well Said! 15:31  |  Clickfool 19/12/07
  11.   Too Sectarian... 15:33  |  Buzaglow 19/12/07
  12.   Jerusalem isn`t Jewish at all 15:33  |  Chanalau, Tova 19/12/07
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  15.   Jewish Rule Is The Most Tolerant Of All Religions ... 15:37  |  Lavi 19/12/07
  16.   Apartheid State 15:40  |  Pauo 19/12/07
  17.   Hark... 15:40  |  Esther 19/12/07
  18.   Catholics cannot preach 15:41  |  Steven 19/12/07
  19.   AND NOW, IT`S QUIZ TIME!!!!! 15:46  |  Jay A Friedman 19/12/07
  20.   to Chana the smart guy 15:53  |  goldenberg 19/12/07
  21.   Steven 15:54  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 19/12/07
  22.   #9 - the bible 15:56  |  Iamashamed 19/12/07
  23.   What a crock of hoohaa 15:58  |  Dave 19/12/07
  24.   Sabah backwards is "Habas" which is one let- 16:00  |  Bombay Billy 19/12/07
  25.   Vatican for muslims! 16:13  |  Harry 19/12/07
  26.   Latin Patriarch 16:14  |  Yusef Daher 19/12/07
  27.   Latin Patriarch talking Greek 16:15  |  utagawa 19/12/07
  28.   #18 Steven 16:16  |  maoriboy 19/12/07
  29.   And the VATICAN STATE ???? 16:16  |  David Plane 19/12/07
  30.   straight talk re catholic church 16:17  |  realism 19/12/07
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  37.   The Vatican of Vatican City - Splinter & Beam 16:35  |  Jeroen de Jager 19/12/07
  38.   #12 Tova, and London is not British 16:40  |  Bob 19/12/07
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  40.   Who rules this land 16:41  |  history man 19/12/07
  41.   Israel guarantees religious freedom. 16:41  |  H.H.M 19/12/07
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  43.   #20: Vatican city as model for Jerusalem 16:44  |  Chanalau, Tova 19/12/07
  44.   31 Shepaprd, thats right..thats why we need to follow the Koran! 16:48  |  Uday 19/12/07
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  46.   #16 Pauo 16:48  |  Fernando Seabra Pess 19/12/07
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  48.   hollyland 16:52  |  fred 19/12/07
  49.   Re Click #10 16:53  |  Esther 19/12/07
  50.   Well What Do You Think It Is? 17:01  |  Yosemite 19/12/07
  51.   Re Joey #33 17:01  |  Esther 19/12/07
  52.   to TA Sheppard#3 17:03  |  Ilya 19/12/07
  53.   #42 more nonsense about pal origin 17:06  |  Bob 19/12/07
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  56.   Michael Sabbah and the Jews 17:10  |  Mitchell 19/12/07
  57.   The demand to recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people 17:11  |  Avihu 19/12/07
  58.   Pat the Patriarch on the head.... 17:11  |  sptz 19/12/07
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