Under the rubric "Opinion" and the title "Beware the affliction" of May 24 the AL - FAJR English issue (P. 5), an interesting and up-building article was written and published, in order to stress the fraternal ties between Muslims and Christians in the Holy Land.

It rightly mentioned "the unity in the ranks and hearts" which led to the establishment of the "Islamic - Christian Council" in Jerusalem.

It is always a source of joy and consolation to remeber the memorable encounter, in 638 A.D., between the Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab and the Patriarch Sophronius who ' born in Damascus around 550 A.D., spent two years of his life in Rome, near the Roman Pontiff and in full communion with him.

Actually, Sophronius, who knew also the Greek language beside his mother's tongue, Christian Aramaic or Syriac, had always been keen on the union with the Holy Roman See which he described, in his synodic letter, as "the lighthouse of all churches under the sun". It is to Rome that, with his spiritual master, John Moschus, he traveled, and it is to Rome that he would send, later on, one of his auxiliary Bishops, namely Bishop Stephen Dorcas in order to explain the sad situation of the Holy Land and Places "to the holy men who are there", namely in Rome, "where one finds the Apostolic See (i.e. that of the Roman Popes), foundation of the orthodox doctrines".

Obviously the word "Orthodox" ! in that time and context means the right ones. It implies the traditional doctrine , before the separation between Rome and Constantinople in l054.

Thus it is an anachronism to describe saint Sophronoius as "orthodox" in the modern sense of lack of communion with the Apostolic See of Rome, where the Popes are the successors of saint Peter.

All these precious data are given to us by the statements of Bishop Stephen Dorcas in the Lateran Synod of 649, some ten or eleven years after the death of the venerable patriarch Sophronius who thus is the symbol of inter-christian fraternity and unity , as well as the symbol of the fraternal dialogue and peaceful coexistense between Muslims and Christians.

One cannot recall enough the wisdom and tolerance of the Caliph Omar, a real genius, who had understood that "the religion is the good treatment" and that "there is no coercition ,i.e. violence, in religion".

To say the truth, some pilgrims and tourists do at times complain about harrassment of their ladies by some Arab children or youths.

Yet, I can myself bear witness to the hospitality, kindness and cordiality of the Palestinian people.

May God grant them the fulfilment of their legitimate rights, incha allah!