You have probably received a letter from the Christian Zionists to support Jewish domination of Jerusalem.

We have replied to this contention below. We would appreciate it if you could find the time to answer this assertion by the Christian Zionists, and take a firm stand against any exclusive claims over Jerusalem, by any religious group, be it Muslim, Christian or Jew.

AS CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS (WHO CLAIM A MEMBERSHIP IN THEIR DENOMINATIONS OF ABOUT 100 MILLION PEOPLE) CALL FOR THE HEGEMONY OF JEWS OVER JERUSALEM, WE RESPOND BY STATING THAT THIS EXCLUSIVE CLAIM IS DETRIMENTAL NOT ONLY TO THE THREE GREAT MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS, BUT TO THE POLITICAL REALITIES OF THE MIDDLE EAST. WE SAY THIS AS THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF 900 MILLION CHRISTIANS ENCOMPASSING ROMAN CATHOLICS, EASTERN ORTHODOX, AND A MYRIAD OF PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, THE EPISCOPALIANS, PRESBYTERIANS, LUTHERANS, QUAKERS AND OTHERS...

For the following reasons, elucidated below we cannot in good conscience support a contention of exclusive Jewish claim to the city of Jerusalem:

(1) Our faith teaches that all Human Dignity derives from God's dignity. This includes Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, Americans, Europeans, Asians and even those of the third world, who are represented by one of the three monotheistic faiths, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. With regard to the ongoing conflict in The Holy Land, we affirm that Israeli Dignity will only be affirmed with the attainment of true dignity for the Palestinian people. In the eyes of the one God,all people are equal, be it Christian, Jew or Muslim.

(2) Our faith teaches that:

(a) There is no difference between the life of one person or another in their relationship with God.

(b) There is no difference in God's eye between Israeli and Palestinian, Jew and Muslim, Christian and non-Christian.

(c) The one God is the creator of all life.

As believers in the one God, by whatever variant of name, we plainly state that fundamentally we all must live under the same LAW.

(3) Our faith teaches us that true peace and security cannot exist unless they are established on real Justice. In the words of the prophet Isaiah who is revered by Jews,Christians and Muslims, "The effect of Justice will be Peace and the result of justice, quietness and security forever" (Isaiah 32:17). God speaks of Justice and Righteousness. God does not accept oppression, but calls on all of us as members of the Human Family, to pursue justice and love righteousness.

(4) Jerusalem is not the exclusive domain of one religion or one people. Jerusalem, The Holy City, is the living symbol of Heaven, Jerusalem belongs to all peoples.

For two thousand years, Jerusalem has been a source of continuing strife, because it was always governed by one political authority which represented one particular religious group. If Jerusalem is to achieve lasting and permanent stability, so that it will truly be The City of Peace, it should have a special status which meets the needs of all those who revere it's holy sites. All people of faith should feel equally at home in Jerusalem, sharing equal rights and equal duties. If Jerusalem continues to be governed exclusively by one political authority represented by only one of the three monotheistic religions, it means that further strife will continue. We posit this as being so because the one who remains "outside" will only nourish hatred in his soul, and the desire to come back and enter Jerusalem once again, by violence and even war.

(6) A true Christian has a duty to serve Truth and Justice. The Lord calls on us to be the light of the world. We are only light if we witness to the TRUTH. It is clear to us that the claims of the Christian Zionists are not truthful about the Holy Land or Jerusalem. A simple reading of history shows their claims are not well founded. We cannot pretend to be true Christians by saying we want to serve the Lord but in reality are only serving ourselves.

Rev. Labib Kobti.