A Vatican synod on the Middle East said on Saturday that "Israel" cannot use the Biblical concept of a promised land or a chosen people to justify new settlements in Al Quds (Jerusalem) or territorial claims.

In its concluding message after two weeks of meetings, the synod of bishops from the Middle East and the synod fathers took issue with Jews who use the Bible to justify settlements in the West Bank, which "Israel" captured in 1967.

"Recourse to theological and biblical positions which use the Word of God to wrongly justify injustices is not acceptable," the synod message said.

Many Jewish settlers and right-wing "Israelis" claim a biblical birthright to the occupied West Bank, and say they are the chosen people.

Yet, Greek-Melchite Archbishop Cyrille Salim Bustros from the synod, said there is no longer a chosen people. All men and women of all countries have become the chosen people, Reuters reported.

The Synod's message said Palestinians "are suffering the consequences of the "Israeli" occupation: the lack of freedom of movement, the wall of separation and the military checkpoints, the political prisoners, the demolition of homes, the disturbance of socio-economic life and the thousands of refugees."

The synod's concluding message repeated a Vatican call for Al Quds (Jerusalem) to have a special status "which respects its particular character" as a city sacred to the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.