President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has made a personal donation to support restoration efforts at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is “a national and religious symbol for the Palestinian people,” Abbas said during an October 17 meeting with representatives of the three Christian bodies (Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic) that share the administration of the basilica. “We have the duty to take care of it, to protect it, and to contribute to its restoration.” King Abdullah of Jordan has also offered a large personal contribution.
The current restoration project focuses on the Edicule: the tomb in which Jesus was laid, which is located inside the basilica. The agreement to undertake restoration work represents a breakthrough, since previous efforts had been stalled by disputes among the various religious groups claiming custody of the Edicule.
