July 26, 2017 -- Response from the WCC (July 20, 2017) Keep the "Status Quo"

On July 20, 2017, the World Council of Churches (WCC) reaffirmed the statements from the Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem from July 19, 2017.  The WCC encouraged its fellowship members and partners to unite in prayer for a peaceful and just resolution in Jerusalem.  Father Ioan Sauca, presently the deputy general secretary of the WCC, stated that,  “keeping the historical status quo and supporting equal rights for Christians, Muslims and Jews at these holy sites is vitally important to maintaining peace and de-escalating violence.”  Father Sauca also said, “we stand in solidarity with Muslims, Jews and Christians, and we pray that justice and peace will prevail, not only this week but in weeks and months to come.”  Some news agencies have interpreted this as the WCC’s endorsement of the Palestinian protests over the new Temple Mount security precautions.  Another news site argues that the WCC is sending a message of support for the Palestinian’s campaign for Jerusalem, arguing further that the WCC has misrepresented the situation on the Temple Mount stating that Israel allows free access for all and that the security measures installed are in response to the terror attack that killed two Israeli-Druze police officers after the terrorists smuggled guns onto the holy site on July 14.  Other holy sites, including Muslim and Christians, have installed security measures following outbreak of violence.