About 2 thousand people marched in silence, carrying candles, photos of the king and flags. The opposition against Trump's choice to recognize the capital of Israel. Jerusalem is in the heart of all Muslims; and it is also rooted in those of Christians.
Amman (AsiaNews / Abouna.org) - Bishops and leaders of the Churches in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan organized a silent candlelight vigil on December 13, to protest against the decision of the American administration to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as capital of Israel.
The march started from the Greek Orthodox Church of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, and it went to the church of Mary of Nazareth, in Sweifieh [western district of Amman, ed.]. At the head of the procession were the Metropolitan of Philadelphia Bishop Benedict, the vicar of Jordan of the Latin patriarchate William Shomali, bishop Yasser Ayyash, other leaders and representatives of the various Jordanian Churches, Christian priests and leaders of Christian institutions in the kingdom, together with some nuns .
Participants included public works minister Sami Halaseh, parliamentarians in the lower house Tariq Khoury and Nabil Ghisha, in addition to the approximately 2,000 people from the various Jordanian Churches.
By raising images of King Abdullah II and Jordanian and Palestinian flags, the protesters reiterated that Jerusalem is an Arab capital for all Muslims and Christians. They condemn the irresponsible decision of the American president with regards the Palestinian question, which harms all international efforts conducted in the last 70 years of conflict in the Holy Land.
When the torchlight procession came to the church of Mary of Nazareth, the director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan, Fr. Rifat Bader, read a statement by the bishops of the Hashemite kingdom, also representing parishioners, in which they categorically reject the decision of US President Donald Trump, as unfair to the Palestinians and contrary to the resolutions of international legitimacy.
In the statement, the bishops expressed appreciation for the positions in defense of the Holy City taken by King Abdullah II Ben Al Hussein in international meetings, the last of which was held at the Islamic Conference in Istanbul, where he acted as guardian of Christian and Islamic shrines. Jerusalem is in the heart of all Muslims; and it is also rooted in the hearts of Christians.