President Reuven Rivlin hosted the leaders of the Christian community in Israel today for the traditional reception marking the beginning of the civil new year.
Rivlin told his guests, “Our sovereignty over Jerusalem will never compromise the freedom of worship and religion of all peoples of faith in Jerusalem and in all of Israel.” Regarding pending legislation on church properties, he said, “The State of Israel has no intention of harming the property rights of the churches or their ability to realize their assets to support their activities. We will never do that. The churches’ legal representatives were invited to take part in the legal process and to make sure that the agreement under discussion will not harm the churches later on. I hope that discussion and dialogue will produce a solution.”