The Anti-Defamation Commission, Australia’s leading organisation fighting hatred in all its forms, has denounced a statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC) that describes new Israeli security measures at the Temple Mount as “Denying access to holy sites for thousands of people who have travelled far to pray is not only a violation of the rights of those individuals, but also a corrosive act in the midst of an already-fragile peace. A spokesperson for the WCC further stated that, “Keeping the historical status quo and supporting equal rights for Christians, Muslims and Jews at these holy sites is vitally important to maintaining peace and de-escalating violence.”
ADC Chairman, Dr Dvir Abramovich, issued the following statement:
“It beggars belief that the WCC seeks to rebuke Israel for installing metal detectors that are the right and necessary measures to ensure the safety of all worshippers and personnel—Jewish, Christian, Muslim. Instead, it should condemn those terrorists who murdered two Israeli policemen on this holy site— there to protect Muslim visitors— by hiding the weapons used in this deadly crime on Temple Mount. Any additional security measures instituted by Israel will prevent future attacks by jihadists determined to exploit the Al-Aqsa mosque for their own evil deeds. Clearly, as this most recent bloodshed demonstrates, the maintaining of the status quo is no longer tenable. It seems that the WCC has chosen to put on the blinders and to ignore the reality that similar measures have been implemented in many holy places around the world, including the Vatican and Mecca, as well as the unrelenting incitement to violence by the Palestinian Authority.”
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on 9272 5677.