The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has decried the unilateral step represented by the decision taken by US President Donald Trump regarding relocating the US embassy to Jerusalem, a measure which undermines international legitimacy and international conventions as well as attempts to tarnish the image of Jerusalem by turning it from a city of peace into a city of dispute. The CCSM also called for adding new adornments to the Christmas tree, titled "Jerusalem is the Capital of Palestine" and "Our National Unity is Our Decoration".
The statement, issued by CCSM Director Fr. Rif’at Bader, states that the step designed to relocate the US embassy is a provocation to millions of Muslims and Christians in different parts of the world, as it will foment hatred and violence in the Holy Land since Jerusalem is a holy city for all religions. This city cannot be assigned to a single people and exclude others or even be assigned to a certain religions and exclude others since this measure violates the will of the Almighty God who wanted it to be a city of prophets and messengers.
The CCSM called for enhancing national unity in support of the unstinting efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the custodian of Jerusalem's Muslim and Christian holy sites, which call for maintain the status quo of the city in compliance with the UN resolutions.
The CCSM referred to the address His Holiness Pope Francis has made in which he called on the US Administration to maintain the status quo in Jerusalem, as well as to resort to "wisdom and prudence" in order to avoid causing addition tensions to the world scene, which already abounds with violent disputes and conflicts. The statement also referred to His Holiness Pope Francis’ assertion that Jerusalem is a unique city as well as holy for Jews, Christians and Muslims, where they pray in their respective holy places, and that it has a special message for peace.
The CCSM statement also quoted the statement issued by patriarchs and heads of local Churches in Jerusalem who expressed, from Jerusalem, concern about the way in which the United States deals with the issue of Jerusalem. They jointly sent a message to US President Donald Trump which stated that “such a step will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division,” and that any sudden change in its status quo is viewed, according to them, “as moving farther from its goal to become a land of dispute and suffering.”
The CCSM statement concluded by saying: “With the onset of the glorious Christmas, we pray to the Almighty God to preserve and consolidate the identity of Jerusalem in a way that maintains peace and justice in the Holy Land, as well as in the Middle East and the world at large.”
