“Gerusalemme città della pace,
il nostro cuore con il popolo ucraino”

“La nostra è la città della pace. Da Gerusalemme un pensiero di pace per Kiev e per tutti i popoli del mondo”.
Così il sindaco della Capitale d’Israele Moshe Lion, appena intervenuto a Palazzo Vecchio nella giornata conclusiva dell’incontro internazionale di sindaci e vescovi riuniti a Firenze per tracciare nuovi orizzonti di collaborazione in più ambiti. Centrale, naturalmente, la questione del conflitto in corso in Ucraina.
Di seguito il suo intervento:

Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella. His Excellency Dr. Dror Eydar, Ambassador of Israel to Italy and San Marino; my dear friends and colleagues mayors of cities around the world, I bring you all, blessings of peace from Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel.
Jerusalem in Hebrew – “Yerushalayim” has Salam, Shalom, peace, in its name, it has peace in its heart. And while, our hearts are in Jerusalem, they are also with the people in Ukraine. And indeed, from the city of peace, we pray for peace. Friends, Jerusalem has a special place in the hearts of all peoples, all over the world. And all peoples, of all faiths, have a special place, in Jerusalem. Mosques, Synagogues, Churches. Along with the holiest sites sacred for all humanity: The Temple Mount – Haram al-Sharif the Western Wall, and The Holy Sepulcher. As the mayor of Jerusalem, I must tell you that we are committed, to the freedom of worship, for all.
The State of Israel will continue to safeguard, nurture and develop Jerusalem, while respecting all the different faiths. We welcome pilgrims from all over, to come in peace, to the holy city of God. Although sadly, His Holiness the Pope, was not able to be with us today, we would be honored to have him visit Jerusalem again. To bring the message of peace and tolerance, as he has done around the whole world. Jerusalem will be honored to welcome him, and indeed all of you, colleagues from around the world, with open arms.
Dear friends and colleagues, in Jerusalem we have two jobs: we must safeguard the past, and the holy, and we must build for the future. In the last few years, Jerusalem has enjoyed a renewal, a revolution, like the city has not seen for years. Perhaps, since the first buildings were built outside the Old City Walls, by an Italian born Jew – Moses Montefiore, one hundred and fifty years ago.
Today, that modern city, has become an economic center, with international companies and start ups, in the fields of health, green technologies, food technologies, cyber, and more. Today, Jerusalem, is not just a city of inspiration, it is a city of innovation. The city of the prophets, and poets of the Bible, is a city of modern miracles. We have hospitals, and universities, which are world leaders, and places where every day, Jews, Muslims, and Christians, live, work, and yes, even play together.
We are building a better world for all. As Mayor of Jerusalem, I am working together with all the municipality, for the sake of all the peoples – all the communities of Jerusalem. We are building new homes, new schools, new office space, and new clean and safe transport across the city.
COVID was another test in the long history of this ancient city, but we have overcome and stand stronger. Dear friends, in maps that we find, made by people hundreds of years ago, Jerusalem is shown as the center of the world. As people of faith, Jerusalem is still at the heart of the world. When the heart is healthy, then the whole body is healthy. And if Jerusalem is at peace, then the whole world, is at peace.
This is why, the Bible tells us: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, May all who love her prosper.” May we all join in that prayer: And say: Amen.

Moshe Lion, sindaco di Gerusalemme