Ramzi Khouri disputes Netanyahu’s claims on Palestinian Christians

Dr. Ramzi Khouri, a member of the PLO Executive Committee and head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, has challenged claims made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the protection of Christians.

Responding to Netanyahu’s address at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Khouri stated that the Prime Minister’s assertions stand in stark contradiction to the lived reality of Palestinian Christians. Khouri identified the occupation and its arbitrary measures as the primary drivers behind the declining Christian population in the region.

According to Khouri, violations include attacks on churches, monasteries, and holy sites, as well as the confiscation of land and property. He also cited the imposition of taxes on ecclesiastical institutions, restrictions on freedom of worship, and assaults against clergy and citizens. These issues reportedly span from Jerusalem to areas such as Taybeh, Birzeit, Ein Arik, and the Bethlehem Governorate.