We have to find ways to wrestle the Jerusalem Patriarchate from the Greeks. Our problem is that we have become a minuscule community in Palestine. We number less than 40 thousand people and our numbers are falling steadily. There are several things we can do.

Engage the Antiochian Patriarchate:


There are of hundereds of thousands of Palestinian Orthodox living outside of Palestine. Pastoral care for these Palestinian Christians is being provided by the Antiochian church. Apart from messages of encouragement the Antiochian church has been reluctant to take serious action to help us. We must convince it to do so.

One example is to encourage the Antiochian church to negotiate temporary and perhaps informal oversight of Arab congregation members in Palestine and Jordan. There of course will be a storm protests from the Greeks and cries that this is non-canonical. However, the Antiochian church can make convincing arguments that it is taking these actions at the behest of its Palestinian refugee congregation and for the good of the Church as a whole. These are exceptional times that need exceptional action.

Apart from shaking the Jerusalem Patriarchate to the core such an action enforces our claim to our lands even though we live in exile.

Engage the Greeks:


There is unanimous agreement within the Greek government that it is in the Greek national interest to maintain control of the Patriarchate. There are however way to convince the Greek government that it is in their national interest to have an Arab Patriarchate.

With insistence one Greek control come responsibilities to the flock. The Greek government can be made to understand that they have a duty to the Orthodox flock both in and outside of Palestine.

In the long run the easiest way to maintain control of the Patriarchate is to co-opt the natives through educational programs and political support. For instance the Greek government can provide funding to Orthodox schools and champion the Orthodox communities that have been driven out of their homes by Israel. It can be convinced to take an active role in supporting our communities in Palestine and in exile. I would be delighted if I could send my kids to an Arabic school that also teaches classical Greek.

Engage the Islamic Groups:


HAMAS is a national liberation movement that is responsive to the needs of all Palestinians including Palestinian Christians.

Unfortunately, I get the feeling from my discussions with HAMAS grassroot activists that they do not fully understand the urgency and the intricacies of our struggle. However, they are responsive and would be a great asset both since they are likely to win the next parliamentary elections and because of there commitment to national liberation. It is important that we seek their support. As a first step we must have a presence on their internet forums.

The most active HAMAS forum is http://www.palestinianforum.net/forum/

I suggest that only people with a mastery of classical Arabic participate in the forum and explain in a delicate way our plight and what we need. I'm sure that they would be delighted to hear what we have to say.

The role of the Catholic Church:


Of course the Jerusalem patriarchate and its properties are the shared inheritance of all Palestinian Christians. For historical reasons, the majority of Palestinian Christians living in Palestine is catholic.

The Greeks have an unhealthy paranoia about the Catholic Church.

There is nothing that scares them more than the thought of Catholic encroachment. The Catholic church should take advantage of the fact that the endogenous Church in Palestine is in the main Catholic. Hopefully, this will help the Greeks understand that the real prize in Palestine is not the stones and buildings but the Palestinian Christians. If they become a Church with no flock, then they are likely to loose everything.