The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem offer their sincere condolences to all concerned on the death of President Yasser Arafat.

President Arafat was the symbol of his people and of his perseverance in asking and claiming for his land and his freedom.  He had to face and endure many hardships in his life, not least in the last three years during which he has been kept prisoner in his compound in Ramallah.

We ask God to have compassion on him and to give him eternal rest.  Then we ask God to give his people consolation and strength in order to persevere in the claiming of their freedom, their dignity and their land so that this Holy Land may enjoy peace with tranquility thus becoming a haven of peace with security for all its inhabitants as well as providing a sense of security and peace for this region of the world.