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CHRISTMAS-SABBAH Dec-21-2004 (460 words) xxxi
In Christmas message, patriarch says peace is destiny of Holy Land
By Judith Sudilovsky
Catholic News Service
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Peace is the destiny of the Holy Land, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem said in his annual Christmas message.
Christmas, the patriarch said, is "a promise of life, joy and dignity in the presence of God who has chosen our land to be his dwelling."
"Only in this perspective and in the presence of God can the peace of Jerusalem and of the Holy Land be built," Patriarch Sabbah said in the message, released Dec. 21.
In the end, Israelis and Palestinians were "destined to live together in peace," he said.
The prospects for peace seem positive this Christmas season, he said.
"We are hopeful that peace will indeed come about, after so many prayers, so many lives sacrificed, so many tears and so much suffering," he said.
Despite all the acts of violence, Palestinians and Israelis were "still at the same point," he said.
"Each one of us has surely drawn lessons from the past violence that has destroyed the image of God in both the perpetrators and the victims, the oppressors and the oppressed," Patriarch Sabbah said.
He said he was hopeful that political leaders would have the "courage" to "accept the painful sacrifices" needed to ensure peace.
In his message, Patriarch Sabbah called on Israel to stop military incursions into Palestinian territories, put a halt to the construction of the separation wall, and stop targeted attacks on alleged Palestinian terrorist leaders.
In comments made to journalists, Patriarch Sabbah urged Israeli leaders to return to the negotiating table, saying that Palestinians were ready to talk. He said some low-level talks already had begun between the two sides.
"Israel is the stronger partner. She has everything in her hand. If Israel wanted peace now, now Israel can make peace. This is what I have said always," he said.
When asked about the existence of extremists among Palestinians, the patriarch said peace "cannot be held hostage in the hands of people who believe in violence."
In his message, the patriarch repeated his familiar argument that violence in the Holy Land will end once Israel ends its occupation of the Palestinian territories.
"Ending the oppression and the humiliation of the Palestinians would at the same time put an end to the fear and insecurity of the Israelis. It would also put an end to those who are exploiting the attendant oppression and the poverty," he said.
Religious leaders must help pave the path to peace while insisting on "justice ... dignity of the human person ... security and an end to the occupation", Patriarch Sabbah said.
He said that although Christians were small in number in the region "we have a special vocation in this land to witness Jesus" to Jews and Muslims.
END
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