Protesters stood under banners reading, “No to killing innocent Copts, no to destruction of churches in Egypt, no to kidnapping and Islamization of girls, no to suppression of religious freedoms and no to apartheid.”
“We are here today to send our condolences to the Coptic church,” said Archbishop Atallah Hannah of the Greek Orthodox Church. “Those who died in Egypt were defenders of the Palestinian cause and are now in heaven with the angels. They were killed because they defended their religious values.”
The event was held in the Frer Secondary School in Jerusalem. The school’s director, Daoud Kaspary, said it was chosen as the meeting place because it was a place where all people “regardless of religion and sex” could meet, “as our religion enjoins.”
East Jerusalem Mayor Adnan al-Husseini also showed up for the rally and sent his condolences to the families of the slain.
“Our pain is doubled because of what happened in Egypt,” said al-Husseini. “Egypt was the first supporter and defender of our cause, and its people gave us so much. Egypt’s strength is our strength.”
Demonstrators spoke about the need for the Egyptian government to defend against attacks targeting Copts and their churches, emphasizing equality between the Copts and Muslims in Egypt and saying the events in Cairo undermined the nascent revolution. Christian clergy assured that the attacks on the Coptic church would be seen as an attack on all churches.
Fatah Revolutionary Council member Dmitri Dilyani delivered a message of solidarity from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in which he asserted the unity of Christian and Muslim Palestinians as “sons of a homeland under occupation.”
“We condemn all attempts to target people for their religion, here in Palestine or in any country in the world,” the statement continued.
