U.S. church leaders decry Biden visit as ‘missed opportunity’

During his visit to the Middle East last week, President Biden toured Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the presumed site of Jesus’ birth. He was met by church patriarchs, other clerics and Palestinian leaders. Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III read to the president from a letter stressing the need for “an active American intervention to protect the Christian heritage and presence in the Holy Land.” 

Theophilos pointed to unprecedented attacks by radical Israeli groups which, along with Israeli police and defense forces, act with impunity, contributing to an environment that is driving Christians from Jerusalem.

According to a press release by the Greek Patriarchate in Jerusalem, Theophilos spoke of Israel’s restriction of freedom of worship for both Muslims and Christians, citing a recent example of occasions when Israeli police prevent worshippers from reaching Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The Patriarch also called out the illegal seizure of Palestinian property, pointing to “attempts to seize Christian real estate at the main entrance to [Jerusalem’s] Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the historic route of Christian pilgrims at Jaffa Gate and New Gate.”

The Greek Patriarchate reported that later, at a reception for Biden hosted by the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, Theophilos spoke again, stressing “the need to put an end to the practices of Israeli radical groups that aim to erase the mosaic culture of the Holy City and eliminate its religious and cultural diversity, adding that the Christian heritage in Jerusalem is at risk as a result of the practices of these groups.”

“Based on the interest Biden showed at this exchange,” the Patriarchate said, “[Theophilos] expects an invitation to the White House soon.”

This was not the first time that Jerusalem’s Christian clergy have spoken publicly about Israel’s failure to uphold its commitment to preserve the Christian community as an integral part of the city’s diverse tapestry. Earlier this year and in December last year, heads of churches expressed their anger and called on Israel to address the frequent and sustained attacks by radical Jewish groups.

On Tuesday, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)—a coalition of 30 U.S church communions and organizations—released a statement lamenting “that the visit of President Joe Biden to Israel and Palestine did little to advance the cause of peace.” The statement issued by church leaders continued, “While affirming the U.S.-Israel relationship and the billions of dollars of U.S. assistance that go with it, the President said almost nothing about the abuses committed by Israel with that assistance against Palestinians.”

The CMEP statement continued, “The joint declaration adopted by President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid condemned ‘terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens.’ Still, during his visit, President Biden made no public mention of Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, the violence of Israeli soldiers against protesters and other Palestinians, including children, or the violence of home demolitions and forced expulsions, all of which diminish any chance for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.” 

“Bold statements supporting human rights and humanitarian needs could have sent a powerful message to all sides that the U.S. is serious about pursuing a fair and just resolution to the conflict,” CMEP charged. “President Biden’s trip was a missed opportunity for the U.S. to exercise that kind of leadership.” 

Churches for Middle East Peace “urges the Biden administration to follow up on this visit with more explicit, more direct public statements, to be backed by tangible actions if necessary… [He] must demand that there be no expansions of settlements and no forcible expulsions of Palestinians… And the Administration must speak out forcefully and regularly in opposition to the litany of human rights abuses against Palestinians that occur routinely, often backed by funding through U.S. defense assistance.”