Common standards needed for Israel-Palestine peace, says WCC
-23/05/06
For lasting pea
Common standards needed for Israel-Palestine peace, says WCC
-23/05/06
For lasting peace and justice to be achieved, both parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be held to identical standards on ending violence, respecting agreements, and recognizing the other says the World Council of Churchesí (WCC) governing committee.
The WCC representatives declare that any unilateral setting of borders must be excluded, a one-party cease-fire in place now needs to be extended to all parties, and the international community should engage with elected Palestinian leaders as well as the Israeli government.
Importantly, the committee also asks WCC member churches to heed calls for help from the churches of Jerusalem and to address the threat of anti-Semitism throughout the world.
In a statement entitled ëThe time is ripe to do what is rightí, issued after its 16-19 May 2006 meeting in Bossey, near Geneva, the WCC governing body warns that “Peace must come soon or it may not come to either people for a long time”.
The statement recalls a long list of disparities between the two parties, with one of them accumulating and securing “unlawful gains” and the other “being isolated and punished”. Those disparities “cannot be justified morally, legally or even politically”, it adds.
The WCC executive committee therefore recommends that, “as a new foundation for peace,” “both parties to the conflict be held to one and the same standard for ending violence, meeting their existing agreements and recognizing each other’s existence including the 1967 borders”.
Amongst its recommendations, the statement encourages the Palestinian authority to “maintain the existing one-party cease-fire toward Israel and extend it to cover all parties”.
On the other hand, it insists on the urgency of “ending the punitive measures” imposed by Israel on the Palestinian people in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The committee encourages Israel to base its security on “the equitable negotiation of final borders” with its neighbours and “excluding the unilateral imposition of borders on those neighbours”.
Affirming that “democracy must be protected where it is taking root,” the committee urges the international community to “establish contact and engage with all the legitimately elected leaders of the Palestinian people,” and “not to isolate them or cause additional suffering among their people”.
In the face of Israeli military incursions and Palestinian suicide attacks, the statement calls on WCC member churches to “share solidarity with people on both sides of the conflict,” and to “use legitimate forms of pressure to promote a just peace and to end unlawful activities by Israelis or Palestinians”.
On anti-Semitism, the committee asks the churches to “find constructive ways to address threats experienced among the Jewish people, including the nature, prevalence and impact of racism in local, national and international contexts”.
On the question of Jerusalem, the WCC executive committee pleads for “an open and inclusive city for the two peoples and three religions, shared in terms of sovereignty and citizenship”.
It also calls the churches world-wide to “heed calls for help from the churches of Jerusalem at this time of trial, assist them in their service to society and support church aid work with people in need”.
An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, independent and indigenous churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
More information about the WCC and church-related efforts to promote peace, justice and non-violence in Israel/Palestine is available here.
[Also on Ekklesia: Palestinian priest to receive Episcopal Peace Fellowship prize; Churches strongly condemn anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial; Iranian president asks Bush, what would Jesus do; Interim aid agreed for Palestinians as churches call for siege to end; US churches in joint call for Middle East peace; UK Christian groups to rally for peace and justice in the Holy Land; Churches seek safety for peace workers in Israel-Palestine; Jewish, Christian and secular activists call for an end to Hebron violence; Bishop questions attack by Chief Rabbi over disinvestment decision; Tensions set to continue around UK Holocaust Memorial Day; Chief Rabbi attacks C of E over disinvestment decision]
Common standards needed for Israel-Palestine peace, says WCC
-23/05/06
For lasting peace and justice to be achieved, both parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be held to identical standards on ending violence, respecting agreements, and recognizing the other says the World Council of Churchesí (WCC) governing committee.
The WCC representatives declare that any unilateral setting of borders must be excluded, a one-party cease-fire in place now needs to be extended to all parties, and the international community should engage with elected Palestinian leaders as well as the Israeli government.
Importantly, the committee also asks WCC member churches to heed calls for help from the churches of Jerusalem and to address the threat of anti-Semitism throughout the world.
In a statement entitled ëThe time is ripe to do what is rightí, issued after its 16-19 May 2006 meeting in Bossey, near Geneva, the WCC governing body warns that “Peace must come soon or it may not come to either people for a long time”.
The statement recalls a long list of disparities between the two parties, with one of them accumulating and securing “unlawful gains” and the other “being isolated and punished”. Those disparities “cannot be justified morally, legally or even politically”, it adds.
The WCC executive committee therefore recommends that, “as a new foundation for peace,” “both parties to the conflict be held to one and the same standard for ending violence, meeting their existing agreements and recognizing each other’s existence including the 1967 borders”.
Amongst its recommendations, the statement encourages the Palestinian authority to “maintain the existing one-party cease-fire toward Israel and extend it to cover all parties”.
On the other hand, it insists on the urgency of “ending the punitive measures” imposed by Israel on the Palestinian people in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The committee encourages Israel to base its security on “the equitable negotiation of final borders” with its neighbours and “excluding the unilateral imposition of borders on those neighbours”.
Affirming that “democracy must be protected where it is taking root,” the committee urges the international community to “establish contact and engage with all the legitimately elected leaders of the Palestinian people,” and “not to isolate them or cause additional suffering among their people”.
In the face of Israeli military incursions and Palestinian suicide attacks, the statement calls on WCC member churches to “share solidarity with people on both sides of the conflict,” and to “use legitimate forms of pressure to promote a just peace and to end unlawful activities by Israelis or Palestinians”.
On anti-Semitism, the committee asks the churches to “find constructive ways to address threats experienced among the Jewish people, including the nature, prevalence and impact of racism in local, national and international contexts”.
On the question of Jerusalem, the WCC executive committee pleads for “an open and inclusive city for the two peoples and three religions, shared in terms of sovereignty and citizenship”.
It also calls the churches world-wide to “heed calls for help from the churches of Jerusalem at this time of trial, assist them in their service to society and support church aid work with people in need”.
An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, independent and indigenous churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
More information about the WCC and church-related efforts to promote peace, justice and non-violence in Israel/Palestine is available here.
[Also on Ekklesia: Palestinian priest to receive Episcopal Peace Fellowship prize; Churches strongly condemn anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial; Iranian president asks Bush, what would Jesus do; Interim aid agreed for Palestinians as churches call for siege to end; US churches in joint call for Middle East peace; UK Christian groups to rally for peace and justice in the Holy Land; Churches seek safety for peace workers in Israel-Palestine; Jewish, Christian and secular activists call for an end to Hebron violence; Bishop questions attack by Chief Rabbi over disinvestment decision; Tensions set to continue around UK Holocaust Memorial Day; Chief Rabbi attacks C of E over disinvestment decision]