Muslim, Christian and Jewish clerics met in Ramallah on Wednesday to declare a joint stance on Israel's occupation of Jerusalem.
The religious leaders met at the offices of the Islamic Christian Commission in Support of Jerusalem and the Holy Sites.
In a news conference at the Ramallah office, the commission's secretary-general Dr Hasan Khatir welcomed the religious officials, in particular Rabbi Yisrael Hirsch, head of the Neturei Karta group.
Khatir said the press conference was held to refute "Zionist lies."
The Israeli occupation "demolished houses, built settlements, detained people and displaced others in the name of religion," he said.
Also in the name of religion, the occupation violated holy places, killed women and children and contravened international and religious law, he continued.
Khatir dismissed recent comments by Israeli officials claiming that the southern buildings of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound were on the verge of collapse. The remarks were evidence that Israel authorities planned to "Judaize" the holy city and displace its Palestinian residents, he said.
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Muhammad Hussein also addressed reporters, and said Jerusalem was the first Qibla for Muslims. Qibla is the direction Muslims should face when praying.
The sheikh said Jerusalem was not only for Palestinians, and that all Arabs and Muslims should prioritize the city before it was lost.
Speaking on behalf of the Christian community in Jerusalem, Father Manuel Musallam maintained that the state of Palestine must be recognized with clear borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Musallam added that Palestinian refugees must return to Palestine and to Jerusalem in particular. He urged the Vatican and the international community to exert pressure on the Israeli government to end its aggressive policies in Jerusalem.
The Christian leader demanded that Israel allowed Muslims and Christians to access the holy city during religious holidays.
Finally, Rabbi Hirsch said his group Neturei Karta opposed Israel's "ugly" occupation of Jerusalem. The organization of Orthodox Jews was founded in 1938 and opposes Zionism.
"It is necessary to explain the position of the real Jewish people towards Zionism which has been desecrating the land of Palestine and the holy city of Jerusalem for over 62 years. They oppressed the guardians of Judaism falsely in the name of Israel."
The Jewish leader called on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to use his jurisdiction to end "the ugly occupation and Judaization of Jerusalem once and for all."
The Rabbi also denounced the recent killing of an anti-wall protester who died after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli forces.
"We take this opportunity to strongly condemn the killing of Palestinian woman Jawahir Abu Rahma in cold blood by war criminals of the Israeli army. We recommend that the International Court of Justice charges them of war crimes against innocent Palestinians."
Front Page Features