Custodian of Holy Land asks European leaders to come to Jerusalem , 28 October, 2004, DOSSIER EUROPE – HOLY LAND, Jerusalem (AsiaNews)

Father Pizzaballa would like to see a single European representative in the Middle East with the power to put pressure on Israelis and Palestinians to talk and reach peace.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – A European constitution is “something good”, Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custodian of the Holy Land, told AsiaNews. Speaking about tomorrow’s official signing ceremony in Rome of Europe’s constitution, he said that it was a positive step that Europe can be present in the Middle East as a single political and economic actor with one plenipotentiary that can put pressure on both Israelis and Palestinians to reach peace.

Father Pizzaballa hopes that “a unified Europe will be able to have its say on how the Middle East evolves.” The Custodian acknowledges that “European governments are absent” when it comes to protecting the region’s Christian minority, but “being so closed geographically to Europe [and its Churches] is a great thing”.

Here is the interview Father Pizzaballa gave AsiaNews.

What do you think of the signing of the European constitution?

It is certainly something positive. Europe getting its own charter is an historic event that comes after so many years of work. There are some elements of this constitution that leave a lot to be desired, but this aside, the fact that there is a constitutional document is something good.

Several commentators were unhappy with the fact that the constitution does not have any explicit reference to the continent’s Christian roots. Do you think this omission can have negative repercussions on the relations between Europe and predominantly Muslim Middle East?

I hope not. I too was surprised by this omission. I can’t understand how one can be afraid of one’s history. I hope that it won’t matter but it is too early to know. Only the future will tell.

Is the birth of a European polity important for the Middle East?

Europe and the Middle East have always had close ties and the signing of the European constitution is very important. Relations between the two have not always been easy and reaching a common European approach on the Middle East is a positive step. I hope that a unified Europe will be able to have its say on how the Middle East evolves.

What would you like to see European governments do vis-à-vis the peoples of the Middle East?

They should play a greater political role in the peace process between Israel and Palestine. They should also take a more united approach to economic issues. This would favour more joint development plans in the region.

What important symbolic step could European leaders take vis-à-vis the Middle East?

They could all come here. I wish there could be a diplomatic representative, a single plenipotentiary representing Europe that would have the power to put pressure on the governments of the two peoples to reach peace.

France was once seen as the protector of Christians in the Holy Land. Do Christians in the Middle East feel that Europe is helping them?

Currently, Christians in the Holy Land are receiving help from Churches throughout the world, including those of Europe. Being so closed geographically to Europe is a great thing. Governments are a bit absent but this stems from political choices made in Europe such as the separation of state and religion. Our consolation comes from the solidarity Churches express through the help and support they give us. (LF)

A new day-care for Arab Christians and Muslims For the Custodian of the Holy Land, it is a sign of hope and courage., 26 October, 2004, ISRAEL – PALESTINE – HOLY LAND, Bethlehem (AsiaNews)

Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – “We Franciscans in the Holy Land are happy because Bethlehem now has a beautiful, new and elegant building. In such difficult times, it is a sign of hope and courage,” Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custodian of the Holy Land, said. He and his fellow Franciscans are indeed pleased with the opening of the new day-care centre in Bethlehem’s Terra Sancta College. The building sports all the newest facilities in pre-school education for the expected 350 preschoolers, both Christian and Muslim, who will attend.

For Father Pizzaballa, the new school is “a sign of hope” because “creating an environment for children means having hope for this land”. It is also “a sign of courage” because in such “difficult times we chose education and learning instead of divisive barriers”.

Success in pulling off such a large-scale project mirrors the contradictions of Palestinian society which, in spite of its daily dramas, is still looking forward to life.

Since the start of the second intifada 112 Jewish children died as did 576 Arab children. And yet, “this school,” Father Piazzaballa believes, “is a sign for us not to pull back into our certainties, but rather to open up to others and love them.”

The building has six floors. The first three have classrooms, each for 24 pupils. The fourth floor has laboratory with modern hands-on teaching equipment that allows children to fully develop their talents and explore their limits. The last two floors are modern play areas.

The Custodians of the Holy Land, especially Fr Ibrahim Faltas, are responsible for getting the school built thanks to the support of Italian donors, among them the dioceses and cooperatives of Tuscany, the Antoniano of Bologna and San Marino’s Progetto Sorriso.

For Mgr Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel, “the inauguration of the modern day-care centre is a victory of hope for the future and solidarity”. “Builders,” he said, “have a better future than destroyers. And those who love have a brighter future than those who hate”. Mgr Sambi hopes that the school will be “the first step in a renewal process that won’t be just brick and mortar, but will involve discussing the entire Church community’s commitment to the city”.

Mgr Piergiuseppe Vacchelli, deputy secretary and president of the Committee for Charitable Interventions in the Third World of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, said that the “school must nourish the knowledge of life and sharing in a world that needs peace”.

Catholic leader welcomes Israeli pullout from Gaza Jerusalem, Oct. 28 (CWNews.com)

Jerusalem, Oct. 28 (CWNews.com) - The head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land has welcomed the Israeli parliament's decision to approve a pullout from the Gaza Strip, saying that it is a historic act.

For the first time since the Arab-Israel war in 1967, the Israel government has authorized a withdrawal of forces from a portion of the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the evacuation of Jewish settlements from those lands. The unprecedented move, advanced by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was approved by the Knesset on a vote of 67- 45. The Israeli government will still face considerable grassroots resistance to the move, however.

Speaking on Vatican Radio, Father Pierluigi Pizzaballa said that the Israeli decision "creates a new situation in the Holy land, and opens a new perspective on relations between the Israelis and Palestinians." The Franciscan leader cautioned, however, that he would wait to "see how things work out concretely" before making any final judgments on the move.

Father Pizzaballa told Vatican Radio that he was not particularly surprised that the hard-line Sharon government had proposed the withdrawal form Gaza. "If you look at the recent history of this country, you can see that many difficult choices have been taken by right-wing governments," he said. "Right or left, I think this was a necessary step."