AFTER AN ATTACK on Rabbis for Human Rights and the Palestinians they were accompanying, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting General Secretary, the Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca shared prayers of healing for those injured and of solidarity with those working for peace.

The attack took place near Burin village, east of Nablus in the West Bank. Eight persons from Rabbis for Human Rights, who were engaged in planting olive trees, were injured in the incident. Reports in Israeli media indicate that the assailants used clubs, stones, and gas against the victims, as well as setting one car on fire and destroying another one.

In a video distributed by Rabbis for Human Rights, one of the victims can be heard saying: They can kill us!” The Rabbis for Human Rights team was taken from the scene by Palestinian ambulance, and eventually transferred to Beilinson Hospital near Tel Aviv where they were treated for injuries.

The full statement from the World Council of Churches reads:

The World Council of Churches (WCC) expresses solidarity with Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) – and the Palestinians they were accompanying – in the aftermath of an attack by settlers in the West Bank against RHR staff and volunteers. We pray for a speedy recovery to those who were injured in this attack. 

The attack took place near Burin village, east of Nablus in the West Bank.  Eight persons from Rabbis for Human Rights, who were engaged in planting olive trees, were injured in the incident.Reports in Israeli media indicate that the assailants used clubs, stones, and gas against the victims, as well as setting one car on fire and destroying another one.

The WCC and its member churches around the world join in praying that the day will come when peace prevails and such attacks become a thing of the past.  We call on the Government of Israel to end the impunity of settlers who commit acts of violence.

Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca
Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches

* View the video from Rabbis for Human Rights here.

* Source: World Council of Churches