Christians meet to step up peacemaking in Israel and Palestine
-15/03/06
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Christians meet to step up peacemaking in Israel and Palestine
-15/03/06
Christians from around the world, including representatives from Churches in Israel and Palestine are joining together for a conference tomorrow in London to look at peacemaking in the Occupied Territories.
It comes just two days after the Israeli military raided a West Bank prison to capture Palestinian militant leader Ahmed Saadat. leading to widespread violence across Gaza.
The Christian advocacy initiative called International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel involves the World Council of Churches (WCC) as well as individual Churches and international agencies.
It will be chaired by Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter and speakers will include the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem.
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The initiative has come from those who are part of the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) as well as the Catholic group Pax Christi International.
The EAPPI began three years ago as a response to a call from the Churches in Jerusalem.
In a joint statement Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem said; “During the last 39 years Churches, Church Leaders and ordinary Christians have worked tirelessly and patiently advocating for Peace in Palestine and Israel. Now as the situation continues to deteriorate and opportunities for peace are forsaken it is crucial for Christians to make their voices heard vigorously in the public arena.
“Lawmakers and politicians in Israel need to know that the Churches are well aware of the on-going suffering caused by the Occupation and the subsequent insecurity and are becoming even more actively involved in seeking a just peace. All national governments have a responsibility to uphold international law and Christians have a role in holding our governments to account.
“We ask all Christians to consider the prophetic role of the Church and the power and importance of public witness so that the sufferings, injustices and insecurity of the Occupation which affects Israelis and Palestiniansóbe they Christians, Muslims or Jewsóbecome an urgent priority for all national governments.
“The positive attention given to the unilateral pullout from the Gaza Strip has served to draw world attention away from the realities on the West Bank and East Jerusalem. There is a steady expansion of Israeli military control, settler blocks continue to grow and land is illegally seized to build a wall which has been condemned internationally. West Bank cities are being choked to death economically and the people live in constant fear of military incursions. The security situation within the Palestinian Territories is in crisis and the Palestinian Authority must be supported in its efforts to impose the rule of law and at the same time be held accountable in fulfilling their responsibilities.
“The price of Occupation is unbearably high for those living in Israeli as well. The country is dominated by insecurity, fear and poverty at the same time social inequalities spiral out of control.
“Palestinian Christians face the same struggles and suffer the same desperate situation as all other Palestinians but we also face an alarming rate of migration out of Palestine. The Christian presence in Palestine is important for the whole society and we are concerned for the future of our community and for the institutions that serve all Palestinians.
“The same solution is required to end the suffering both in Israel and Palestine: A just peace reached through negotiations guided by international law. An end to the illegal Occupation is the first step towards real peace and security for both Israel and Palestine. Peace, justice and security for Palestine will bring peace, justice and security for Israel.
“The Christian perspective on law and justice leads us to call for a two-state solution based on international law which provides a truly viable, contiguous, independent, sovereign state.
“We affirm a vision of peace with justice based on reconciliation. We as Christians have faith in Godís power and presence. Our faith is a well spring of hope and perseverance. It is that very hope that leads us to assert that the present situation can and must be changed. We call for assertive non-violent efforts to bring peace and we condemn in the strongest possible terms all those that use violence and acts of terror.
“However, the situation is urgent. With every passing month the possibility of a peaceful negotiated solution grows more distant. The more settlements that are built and the more the Wall sets the borders on confiscated lands means that the West Bank communities are separated further from each other. Similarly, Muslims and Christians have further restrictions placed on their access to the Holy sites, especially in Jerusalem, people cannot travel and families are separated. Palestinian children are illegally detained and more Palestinian Christians leave the Holy Land because of lack of work, security and hope for the future. In consequence a viable, contiguous Palestinian State becomes less likely. Every day is pushing a short term solution further away.”
Christians meet to step up peacemaking in Israel and Palestine
-15/03/06
Christians from around the world, including representatives from Churches in Israel and Palestine are joining together for a conference tomorrow in London to look at peacemaking in the Occupied Territories.
It comes just two days after the Israeli military raided a West Bank prison to capture Palestinian militant leader Ahmed Saadat. leading to widespread violence across Gaza.
The Christian advocacy initiative called International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel involves the World Council of Churches (WCC) as well as individual Churches and international agencies.
It will be chaired by Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter and speakers will include the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem.
Related Articles
The initiative has come from those who are part of the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) as well as the Catholic group Pax Christi International.
The EAPPI began three years ago as a response to a call from the Churches in Jerusalem.
In a joint statement Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem said; “During the last 39 years Churches, Church Leaders and ordinary Christians have worked tirelessly and patiently advocating for Peace in Palestine and Israel. Now as the situation continues to deteriorate and opportunities for peace are forsaken it is crucial for Christians to make their voices heard vigorously in the public arena.
“Lawmakers and politicians in Israel need to know that the Churches are well aware of the on-going suffering caused by the Occupation and the subsequent insecurity and are becoming even more actively involved in seeking a just peace. All national governments have a responsibility to uphold international law and Christians have a role in holding our governments to account.
“We ask all Christians to consider the prophetic role of the Church and the power and importance of public witness so that the sufferings, injustices and insecurity of the Occupation which affects Israelis and Palestiniansóbe they Christians, Muslims or Jewsóbecome an urgent priority for all national governments.
“The positive attention given to the unilateral pullout from the Gaza Strip has served to draw world attention away from the realities on the West Bank and East Jerusalem. There is a steady expansion of Israeli military control, settler blocks continue to grow and land is illegally seized to build a wall which has been condemned internationally. West Bank cities are being choked to death economically and the people live in constant fear of military incursions. The security situation within the Palestinian Territories is in crisis and the Palestinian Authority must be supported in its efforts to impose the rule of law and at the same time be held accountable in fulfilling their responsibilities.
“The price of Occupation is unbearably high for those living in Israeli as well. The country is dominated by insecurity, fear and poverty at the same time social inequalities spiral out of control.
“Palestinian Christians face the same struggles and suffer the same desperate situation as all other Palestinians but we also face an alarming rate of migration out of Palestine. The Christian presence in Palestine is important for the whole society and we are concerned for the future of our community and for the institutions that serve all Palestinians.
“The same solution is required to end the suffering both in Israel and Palestine: A just peace reached through negotiations guided by international law. An end to the illegal Occupation is the first step towards real peace and security for both Israel and Palestine. Peace, justice and security for Palestine will bring peace, justice and security for Israel.
“The Christian perspective on law and justice leads us to call for a two-state solution based on international law which provides a truly viable, contiguous, independent, sovereign state.
“We affirm a vision of peace with justice based on reconciliation. We as Christians have faith in Godís power and presence. Our faith is a well spring of hope and perseverance. It is that very hope that leads us to assert that the present situation can and must be changed. We call for assertive non-violent efforts to bring peace and we condemn in the strongest possible terms all those that use violence and acts of terror.
“However, the situation is urgent. With every passing month the possibility of a peaceful negotiated solution grows more distant. The more settlements that are built and the more the Wall sets the borders on confiscated lands means that the West Bank communities are separated further from each other. Similarly, Muslims and Christians have further restrictions placed on their access to the Holy sites, especially in Jerusalem, people cannot travel and families are separated. Palestinian children are illegally detained and more Palestinian Christians leave the Holy Land because of lack of work, security and hope for the future. In consequence a viable, contiguous Palestinian State becomes less likely. Every day is pushing a short term solution further away.”