São Paulo — This Friday (25), Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce hosted a dinner in São Paulo, Brazil, to welcome a delegation composed by religious leaders from Palestine visiting Brazil. The group is formed by representatives of different Christian denominations.
“We came specially to talk about peace representing all churches in Jerusalem,” father Ibrahim Faltas said to ANBA – he is Franciscan from Jerusalem, the general-secretary of the organization Custody of the Holy Land and leader of the delegation. In the next few days, the group has many scheduled meetings with authorities and entities in São Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro.
“We will also talk about finding a solution for Jerusalem, because it is a problem already lasting for 70 years between Palestinians and Israelis, and we ask Brazilian people help in this process for the good of all Middle East peoples and the whole world,” stressed Faltas.
They intend to raise awareness in Brazilian Christian communities, specially Evangelical ones, about the problems that moving Brazilian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalém may cause. “We ask for help to not complicate matters, because moving the embassy would complicate matters. Jerusalem should be a city for all, not a capital of only one people,” he added.
In the same vein, pastor Jack Sara from Bethlehem said one of the mission intentions is to explain the Palestinian reality for Brazilian Evangelical communities. “I’m Evangelical and I lead a training seminar for pastors in Bethlehem and Nazareth,” he told ANBA. “I came here to talk to Brazilian Evangelical community about our presence in Palestine, because many don’t even know we exist,” he stressed. The institution he leads is called Bethlehem Bible College.
For Sara, there are Evangelical denominations in Brazil “with a theological and political destructive vision,” referring to those who defend the consecration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Palestinians and Israelis claim Jerusalem as their capital, but the United Nation and the great majority of countries defend that city status be decided only within peace negotiations to reach a solution for both States.
“Evangelicals have to be involved in peace, not getting in the way of peace,” declared Sara. “Moving the embassy is a unilateral action to justify a political posture considering Jerusalem a city for only one people , and that harms the Christian presence in Jerusalem,” he added.
The pastor wishes to persuade Brazilian Evangelicals to “halt the move until there is an actual process of peace.”
“Our goal is peace, and the Catholic Church has a clear vision that in order to have peace, there has to be two States; we see peace as the result of this decision that is already a reality for UN. Let Jerusalem be for all,” commented the Franciscan father Bruno Varriano, a Brazilian based in Nazareth, city with an Arab majority in Israel. He is the dean of the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth. “Saint John Paul II said: ‘If there is peace in Jerusalem, it will extend to the whole world,” he added referring to the canonized pope John Paul II.
“We want to create a dialogue with Brazilian Christians to explain the perspective of Palestinian Christians, who live under the Israeli occupation and suffer as part of the Palestinian people,” declared the Palestinian ambassador in Brasilia, Ibrahim Alzeben, who is also dean of the Arab Ambassadors Council in Brazil. “We want to avoid a wrong decision that does not contribute for peace, insults international law, and harm the Palestinians,” he stressed.
For the diplomat, the delegation seeks to raise awareness among Brazilian Evangelicals on the “importance of keeping Jerusalem out of politics.”
Arab Chamber president Rubens Hannun said to the delegation that they bring a message of peace to Brazil, which is an example of peaceful coexistence among peoples. “The Arab Chamber is a commercial entity, not a religious nor a political one, and appreciates this characteristic in Brazil,” he declared. “That is why we say you can count on our entity to convey this message of peace,” he stressed.
The delegation also includes Lutheran pastor Mitri Rehab, who presides Dar Al-Kalima University College of Arts and Culture in Bethlehem; ambassador Amira Hananina, general-director of Presidential Committee of Church Affairs, and an Orthodox Christian; Imad Imtyair, in charge of foreign affairs in the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, Fatah; and diplomat Mohamad Imar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
Part of the reception party were Jordanian ambassador in Brasilia, Malek Twal, vice-dean of the Ambassadors Council; São Paulo Orthodox archbishop Dom Damaskinos Mansour; father Dimitrios Attarian, also from the Orthodox Church; sheik Mohammed Barakat, from Mesquita Brasil; Arab Chamber former presidents Salim Schahin and Orlando Sarhan; vice-presidents Osmar Chohfi (foreign affairs), Riad Younes (marketing) and Adel Auada (administrative); treasurer Nahid Chicani; directors Mohamed Orra Mourad, Mohamed Abdouni and William Atui; and former director Mustapha Abdouni.
This Friday, the delegation participated in the mass for the 465th anniversary of São Paulo at the See Cathedral, celebrated by archbishop Dom Odilo Scherer, and met with almost 20 local religious leaders.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
