ORTHODOX UNION PROTESTS REMARKS BY JERUSALEM’S CATHOLIC PATRIARCH SABBAH REJECTING ISRAEL’S IDENTITY AS A JEWISH STATE

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – in response to Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah’s (the highest ranking Catholic Church official in Jerusalem) public comments challenging Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, laying blame for the Arab-Israeli conflict solely with Israel and charging Israel discriminates against non-Jews, sent a strong letter of protest to Catholic officials.

UOJCA Executive Vice President Rabbi Dr. Tzvi H. Weinreb stated:

We hope that Catholic Church officials will publicly denounce these remarks by Patriarch Sabbah, whose words are as painful as they are slanderous. Under Israeli rule, each Abrahamic faith has full access and control over their holy shrines. We are mystified at the suggestion by Patriarch Sabbah that Israel, which has lived each day of its existence under siege and at war, should be the party at fault in his eyes when each day men, women and children are under rocket attack, living in fear of suicide bombings and sniper attacks, and struggling against radical regimes that seek to literally wipe it off the map.

The UOJCA, in partnership with the Rabbinical Council of America, maintains a twice yearly consultation with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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