Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for Bethlehem
-30/06/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury,
Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for Bethlehem
-30/06/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has responded to an urgent appeal from secular and religious authorities for assistance to meet a deepening humanitarian crisis in Bethlehem ñ following news this week that the Israeli authorities are uprooting olive trees to make way for the Separation Wall, and that an important monastery will also be annexed.
In his appeal, the governor of Bethlehem, Salah Tamari, observed that ìour hospital no longer has drugs [and] people do not have foodî.
The Greek Catholic Archbishop and well-known peacemaker, Elias Chacour, wrote ìwe hope and pray that a resolution will soon be found to this crisis but in the meantime we need your help to save the lives of the most vulnerableî.
Dr Williams has responded with a financial contribution to the Naaman Trust, a UK registered charity that is providing medical supplies and other relief in Bethlehem. He said, ìI hope this offering for essential medical support will show to the local community that we know of, and care about their sufferingî.
Other religious and civic leaders, such as Catholic Cardinal Cormac Murphy OíConnor, former South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and ex-US President Jimmy Carter have backed the ëOpen Bethlehemí campaign ñ with Pope Benedict XVI being the first recipient of a new ëinternational passportí for the famous city.
In January 2006 year Dr Williams sent a delegation to Bethlehem to convey a message of solidarity with people there. Since then the effects of the isolation imposed on the town, aggravated by the consequences of the reaction to the election of Hamas later that month, have been monitored with increasing concern.
The Archbishop believes that ìrestrictions on the movement of Bethlehemís citizens limit their capacity for self-helpî. This has made an already grave humanitarian situation worse, with a disproportionate effect on the weak and vulnerable.
The Archbishop renewed his call for an increase in the number of Western Christians visiting the Holy Land on pilgrimages. ìPilgrimages are a practical way of showing solidarity and helping to sustain the livelihoods of vulnerable communities in the Holy Landî, he said.
Dr Williams has urged Christians to continue to ìsupport and pray for those working for peace and reconciliation in the region, including through the provision of humanitarian aidî.
ëOpen Bethlehemí is supported by people of all faiths and none.
[Also on Ekklesia: Bethlehem olive trees uprooted by Israeli wall work 29/06/06; Bethlehem Christians disown US Congress Palestine resolution 20/06/06; Open Bethlehem coalition; Bethlehem launches own passport; Pope becomes first citizen of Bethlehem; Christians urged to speak out over EU sanctions against Palestine; Church leaders in Bethlehem drive; Fears of new Israeli settlement as wall closes in on Bethlehem]
Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for Bethlehem
-30/06/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has responded to an urgent appeal from secular and religious authorities for assistance to meet a deepening humanitarian crisis in Bethlehem ñ following news this week that the Israeli authorities are uprooting olive trees to make way for the Separation Wall, and that an important monastery will also be annexed.
In his appeal, the governor of Bethlehem, Salah Tamari, observed that ìour hospital no longer has drugs [and] people do not have foodî.
The Greek Catholic Archbishop and well-known peacemaker, Elias Chacour, wrote ìwe hope and pray that a resolution will soon be found to this crisis but in the meantime we need your help to save the lives of the most vulnerableî.
Dr Williams has responded with a financial contribution to the Naaman Trust, a UK registered charity that is providing medical supplies and other relief in Bethlehem. He said, ìI hope this offering for essential medical support will show to the local community that we know of, and care about their sufferingî.
Other religious and civic leaders, such as Catholic Cardinal Cormac Murphy OíConnor, former South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and ex-US President Jimmy Carter have backed the ëOpen Bethlehemí campaign ñ with Pope Benedict XVI being the first recipient of a new ëinternational passportí for the famous city.
In January 2006 year Dr Williams sent a delegation to Bethlehem to convey a message of solidarity with people there. Since then the effects of the isolation imposed on the town, aggravated by the consequences of the reaction to the election of Hamas later that month, have been monitored with increasing concern.
The Archbishop believes that ìrestrictions on the movement of Bethlehemís citizens limit their capacity for self-helpî. This has made an already grave humanitarian situation worse, with a disproportionate effect on the weak and vulnerable.
The Archbishop renewed his call for an increase in the number of Western Christians visiting the Holy Land on pilgrimages. ìPilgrimages are a practical way of showing solidarity and helping to sustain the livelihoods of vulnerable communities in the Holy Landî, he said.
Dr Williams has urged Christians to continue to ìsupport and pray for those working for peace and reconciliation in the region, including through the provision of humanitarian aidî.
ëOpen Bethlehemí is supported by people of all faiths and none.
[Also on Ekklesia: Bethlehem olive trees uprooted by Israeli wall work 29/06/06; Bethlehem Christians disown US Congress Palestine resolution 20/06/06; Open Bethlehem coalition; Bethlehem launches own passport; Pope becomes first citizen of Bethlehem; Christians urged to speak out over EU sanctions against Palestine; Church leaders in Bethlehem drive; Fears of new Israeli settlement as wall closes in on Bethlehem]