Palestinian state is an existing reality
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 5/1/2000

In an interview granted to the Egyptian magazine "Al-Musawwar", published on April 28, 2000, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III said that the Palestinian State is an existing reality since the Partition Resolution which stipulated the establishment of two states on the Palestinian territory.

He added that the recognition by Israel of the Palestinian State is a fait accompli, and that any presence, civil or military, on the Palestinian land is inconsistent with the international legitimacy resolutions, and Israel should withdraw from the Palestinian lands by virtue of these Resolutions, i.e. to the June 4, 1967 borders.

Regarding the endeavors of Israel to take Jerusalem as its eternal and unified capital, His Holiness emphasized that Jerusalem is an occupied Arab land, and Israel has to pull out of it. The right of return the Palestinians to their homeland is guaranteed by UN Resolution 194, and Israel can never claim the right to annex any land, nor can it be entitled to extend its sovereignty over Jerusalem and the settlements which should be dismantled, the Pope expounded indicating that the Israeli claims in this respect are inconsistent with the international laws and the legitimate rights of the Palestinians.

As for the Israeli endeavors for normalization (with Arab states), His Holiness argued that those who were pro-normalization with Israel, have discovered that Israel itself is not consistent with its endeavors for normalization, nor was it bona fide in this respect; for, it has been concerned about its own interests only.

On the other hand, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, stressed anew the stance of the Coptic Church as regards its denunciation of any visits by Copts to Jerusalem, arguing that it is not a mere visit to the Land onto which Jesus Christ had trodden, because the most important is Christ Himself and his concepts which emphatically repudiate all sorts of injustice.

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