JERUSALEM: The EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah met with representatives of several Christian Churches present at the Mount of Olives, where several pending Israeli projects in and around Jerusalem’s Old City threaten to alter permanently the character of numerous holy sites and undermine the established religious equilibrium.

Such projects include expanding the National Park on the Mount of Olives and a plan to build a cable car in Jerusalem’s historic core.

Pursuing these plans could have a detrimental impact on the holy sites, the paths of pilgrimage and the viability of Jerusalem’s communities, said an EU statement.

‘It would pose a serious threat to the special status of Jerusalem as well as to the peaceful coexistence of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem.’

The EU called for the upholding of the Status Quo, including for Christian holy sites. ‘The special status and character of Jerusalem and its Old City, the inviolability of its sacred spaces, and the viability of all its c
ommunities must be preserved and respected by all.’

Along with Jewish and Muslim holy sites, the Mount of Olives is home to numerous Christian communities and holy sites, connected by paths of Christian pilgrimage.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency