News, articles and documents from the Holy Land

“Peace will be the fruit of Justice and my people will dwell in the beauty of Peace”

 
 
 

 


Issue No. 97 - Wednesday, 12 September 2001

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters,

I have just returned back from the prayer service which was held in the Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr in Jerusalem, in remembrance of all who have lost their lives in the United States of America, for a speedy recovery of all the injured, and for peace in the world.

This service was presided by the Most Reverend Bishop Riah Abu Al-Asal and attended by the consul General of the USA in Jerusalem, the consuls Generals of Britain, France, Belgium, Greece and the EU including heads of Churches in Jerusalem with a crowd of faithful. From our Church H.E. Bishop Kamal Bathish represented our Patriarch who is in Pastoral visit in Galilee.

Everybody was shocked and saddened by what happened in the USA and expressed his heartfelt sorrow and feelings to the Consul General of America. While returning back from Nablus road we saw in front of the American consulate a huge crowd of people and school boys and girls holding flowers in their hand to offer their condolences to the American people and government.

I will dedicate the whole Olive Branch of Today to share with you all the documents I collected from all the Churches in the Holy Land which all express their deep sorrow and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the USA.

You will find the following important documents:

1)      John Paul II Horrified at ´Inhuman Terrorist Attacks´ in U.S.
Sends Telegram of Condolence to President Bush

2)      A message of solidarity and condolences from His Beatitude Patriarch Sabbah to the American People and the church of America for the terrorist attack against the innocent people, which took place yesterday in New York and Washington.

3)      STATEMENT From The ANGLICAN CHURCH IN JERUSALEM

4)      A letter of condolence, sympathy and condemnation sent by Bishop Munib Younan to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, George Anderson following terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

5)      Thoughts and Prayers From Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

6)      Palestinians Grieve Over USA Tragedy written by Rev. Mitri Raheb 12-Sep-01

7)      Middle East Churches "Horrified by Violence" by Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour
General Secretary The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

8)      Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation Expresses its Sorrow

9)      Statement of Pax Christi International who’s president is our Patriarch Michel Sabbah.

10)  “Prayers from the Holy Land” by  Dr. Maria C. Khoury from Department of Education, English Language Studies

11)  STATEMENT OF THE LAITY COMMITTEE OF THE HOLY LAND IN JERUSALEM

All these documents confirm the greed shock and the deep solidarity of our Christian Communities in the Holy Land and the concern of the entire Palestinian people for the fate of our brothers and sisters in the USA.

Therefore, we call upon the International Community to look on what is going in the Holy Land and understand that the Jerusalem is the key of peace and of war not only in this region but also in the whole world.

Best wishes from Jerusalem the key of peace and war.                          Fr. Raed Abusahlia

 

                  John Paul II Horrified at ´Inhuman Terrorist Attacks´ in U.S.
                              Sends Telegram of Condolence to President Bush

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 11, 2001 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II said he was horrified at the "inhuman terrorist attacks" in the United States today and offered prayers for the victims and all Americans in "this dark and tragic moment."

In what seemed like related attacks on the best-known landmarks of U.S. financial and military power, two airplanes crashed separately into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and another crashed into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.

The 110-story towers in Manhattan later collapsed. A fourth plane, which officials speculated was intended to crash into the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, went down in western Pennsylvania. The attacks are feared to have left thousands dead and injured.

The Pope, who followed the news from the papal summer residence southeast of Rome, rushed a telegram to U.S. President George W. Bush within hours of the first attacks.

"Shocked by the unspeakable horror of today's inhuman terrorist attacks against innocent people in different parts of the United States," the Holy Father's telegram said, "I hurry to express to you and your fellow citizens my profound sorrow and my closeness in prayer for the nation at this dark and tragic moment."

"Commending the victims to almighty God's eternal mercy, I implore his strength upon all involved in rescue efforts and in caring for the survivors," the Pope stated. "I beg God to sustain you and the American people in this hour of suffering and trial."

The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, dedicated its entire front page to the attacks, headlining its delayed afternoon editions "The madness of terror.'' It said the strikes were the work of "diabolic minds'' intent on plunging humanity into an unimaginable climate of war.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, said that when the Holy Father heard the news of the attacks, he immediately went to pray "to beg from the Lord the end of such fratricidal violence."

 

Message of solidarity and condolences

A message of solidarity and condolences from His Beatitude Patriarch Sabbah to the American People and the church of America for the terrorist attack against the innocent people, which took place yesterday in New York and Washington.

Jerusalem, September 11th  2001

Your Eminencies, Excellencies and dear Brothers,

 

I would like to express to your Eminence and to the Church of America and the entire American people our solidarity and condolence for the terrible events which took place today in the USA.

 

We are with you in prayer and feelings. The Church of the Holy Land prays with you and asks God to give you all His divine comfort and hope in these difficult moments.

 

The Christian Communities in Jerusalem and the whole Palestinian people stand with you in these moments and share with you the sadness for the loss of innocent brothers and sisters in humanity and faith.

 

We condemn these horrifying crimes and we are shocked and deeply saddened when we watched the extent of the catastrophe inflected upon the innocent people, which was caused by horrible acts of terrorism. It is unimaginable to see how catastrophic the extent of terrorism could reach.

 

Let us work together for a better world as we begin the 3rd millennium after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace.

 

Please extend our deep and heartfelt solidarity with all the families and relatives of all the victims of these events. May the Lord give them strength and patience.

 

With our sincere and fraternal prayers and feelings.

                                                                                                                        + Michel Sabbah

                                                                                                                        Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

 

 

STATEMENT From The ANGLICAN CHURCH IN JERUSALEM

12 September 2001

 

The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East is distraught over the September 11 attacks on the United States of America. We fully and explicitly condemn those acts of terror on United States soil and on the citizens of America.

 

We forcefully denounce this inhuman and unjustified action, and we join our sufferings with the American people. On behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, ordained and lay, we assure the President, the government and the people of the United States of our ceaseless prayers, calling upon Almighty God to comfort the hearts of the bereaved for the loss of their dear ones, and beseeching Him to heal all the injured in body, mind or-spirit.

 

We call on all peace loving people in the world to join hands, minds and hearts in practicing collective common sense before forming opinions and reactions that may inadvertently affect the innocent, as well as combating evil, oppression, injustice and the killing of the innocent.

 

We pray for greater commitment to bringing an end to all the causes that make for war and/or hostilities, without resorting to the weapons of the evildoers, but with the weapons of God, so that ultimately peace and harmony prevail.

 

May God have mercy on all the suffering, and may the souls of all who perished rest in His peace, and may the hearts of all the bereaved be comforted with His love.

 

+ RT. Rev. Riah Abu El-Asal

Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem

 

A letter of condolence, sympathy and condemnation

 

The following is the letter sent by Bishop Munib Younan to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, George Anderson following terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

 

George AWAD 

 

Dear Bishop Anderson,

 

Salaam and grace to you from a troubled Jerusalem in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

On  behalf of Bishop Munib Younan, I would like to express the ELCJ's deepest sorrow and strongest condemnation for the atrocious attack and savage act of terrorism on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, Washington D.C.,  whereby thousands of innocent people lost their lives. In a telephone conversation this morning, Bishop Younan who is currently traveling in the United States, expressed his deep personal shock and feeling of sympathy with the families of the victims. He affirmed his belief that we in the Church cannot give in to the forces of extremism, but have to give our support to the forces of moderation.

 

Bishop Younan, on behalf of all the members of our Church would  like to express to you as the spiritual leader of our sister Church,  to the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the entire American people our solidarity and condolence. Your pain is our pain. We were shocked to watch this unprecedented act of violence and terrorism. We therefore share your sadness and sorrow for the loss of so many innocent lives.

 

We pray for you, and express our solidarity with all the families and relatives of the victims.

 

We take refuge in God's promise to unfailingly be with those are in need of His enduring presence.

 

Respectfully yours,

 

George AWAD

ELCJ Church Secretary

Assistant to the Bishop

 

On behalf of Bishop Munib Younan

Currently on travel in California, USA 

-----------------------------------------------------
The Evangelical Lutheran Church
P.O.Box 14076
JERUSALEM 91140
Tel: +972 - 2 - 6276111;  Fax: 6285764
E-mail:  ga_elcj@netvision.net.il
Website: www.holyland-lutherans.org

 

Thoughts and Prayers From Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

12-Sep-01

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

We are stunned at the enormous tragedy that hit the USA yesterday and caused great suffering to the American people.

 

As we grieve the loss of so many lives, we share your sorrow, fear and concern for your loved ones and all innocent people, victims of hatred and sick minds. The extent of the catastrophe reveals the vulnerability and weakness of human beings and governments in the face of terror.

 

As Palestinians, who have been victims of terror, we are appalled at the reports of Palestinians celebrating your tragedy. Amidst all the pain and injustice that we have been living through the past year, we condemn all terrorist crimes that dehumanize and perpetrate evil. It is important to realize that once more the media is at work to divert attention from this terrible calamity by trying to find scapegoats to blame.

 

Now is the time to work with more determination to deal with the root causes that create violence, a violence that is consuming our world. It is the time to remember that only God is great. Let us pray that his love and mercy will comfort the bereaved, heal the injured, and help and guide leaders into taking decisions that will avoid more suffering to humankind.

 

We pray for a just peace that will save our world.

 

Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

 

 

Palestinians Grieve Over USA Tragedy

Rev. Mitri Raheb 12-Sep-01

With deep sorrow and profound grief we write this message to offer our heartfelt condolences to the mothers, fathers, children, friends and families of the thousands of innocent people who have been the victims of the terrorist attacks yesterday morning on the USA. We would like to reach out to all of our American friends to assure them that we stand by them at this difficult and tragic time. Constantly, for the past eleven months, we have received many massages from our friends from America expressing their solidarity and sharing with us our grief. Never in our worst nightmares did we imagine that we would be witnessing such a horrendous event and human tragedy inflicted on our American friends. We care for every life and we pray for all those who are mourning the loss of loved ones taken away by this indiscriminate act of organized terror. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

 

We are aware that the media has shown President Arafat's shocked reaction to this act and his strong condemnation of it. Unfortunately, the media has also shown scenes of a few Palestinians celebrating this tragedy. We want you to know that these few do not speak for or represent the entire Palestinian people. What the media failed to acknowledge was the majority of Palestinians who were shocked, saddened and mournful. We believe that this media campaign is biased and aims at dehumanizing the Palestinian people. Such a campaign follows the same logic of the terrorists, since it deliberately attempts to punish innocent people indiscriminately. In our grief, we are asking ourselves why did the people immediately associate us Palestinians with the perpetrators rather than the victims.

 

As Palestinians, we can very well understand the pain of our American friends. We know what it means when political leaders are targeted and are not safe in their own offices. We understand what it means when planes attack security headquarters. We know how it feels when the backbone of the economy is assaulted. We do not want to compare suffering, since every suffering is unique and this particular tragedy has such hideous dimensions. Yet, never before have Americans and Palestinians shared so much.

 

We express our solidarity with the American people. We invite people all over to:
Hold vigil prayers for the victims and their families.
Raise awareness and sensitivity to the brutality that the media perpetrates through the images projected.
Monitor the way that certain nations and peoples are stereotyped  (The Americans, The Palestinians, etc.), thus inciting hatred and legitimizing aggression.
Develop alternative media that will set new ethical standards in reporting.
Actively participate in the WCC's "Decade to Overcome Violence"so that future generations will have compassion, do justice and value life.
Commit to prophet Micah's vision that "they shall sit every person under his vine and his fig tree and none shall make them afraid."

So that no American, Palestinians, Iraqi, Israeli, Japanese, etc. will be afraid to be in his/her office, home, or airplane, no matter what nationality they hold.

 

May the peace of Christ be with us all.

 

Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church- Bethlehem
Dr. Nuha Khoury, The International Center of Bethlehem

 

 

Middle East Churches "Horrified by Violence"

12-Sep-01

Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour
General Secretary
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

 


JERUSALEM,  September 12, 2001--The Middle East Council of Churches, representing Catholic, Protestant, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches throughout the Middle East, sent the following message to friends and colleagues in the United States today:

 

Dear friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ in the United States, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father's love and mercy, and solace of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, surround and bear you up on this morning after the day of tragedy.

 

The world -- we all -- stopped, horrified. The massive scale of the violence particularly in New York but also in Washington has been beyond belief.  Imagination cannot picture what may be its repercussions as anger yields to cries for vengeance.  Almost instantly the images flooded out over the TV networks, horrific descriptions over our radios. Where we were first touched was in our human soul.  We were caught up in the agony of individuals amplified manifold.  And words are not enough to describe this even though that is all that we have at the moment.

 

I wish to express to our friends in the United States our profound condolences for the loss of loved ones.  In gathering after gathering in America, Christians will lift up their hearts in prayer.  We assure you that we too are gathering, and our prayers join yours.  We ask for healing beyond understanding, we pray for courage beyond our outrage and fear.  We ask for the grace, the steadfast poise of faith, to stand with integrity and minister in an ever more dangerous world.

 

We are devastated by the bestiality that can infect ordinary human beings and transform them into mass murderers and deranged suicides.  Evil raised its head.  Its taunting must be resisted.   Evil does not overcome evil; it augments it.  Christ taught us that.  The democratization of terror and violence on a massive scale points to a profound distortion in the human spirit of our times.  And as those who bear the Gospel of Peace, it is this distortion we must overcome. With you we mourn the innocent dead; we bewail our own loss of innocence, our loss of confidence, our loss of a sense of security.  And we do so out of a Middle East that has known more than its fair share of death, disillusionment and fear over all-too-many decades.

 

But with you too we are determined that death shall have no dominion. Your hope and our hope will not be crushed. In the name of all the member churches of the Middle East Council of Churches, in the name of our presidents and staff, I stretch out to you our love and compassion in Christ's name and for his sake.  We break one bread and are one Body.  Holding to that reality with a firm grip, you will rise above this tragic moment and, with you, we too will rise. Let us together seek the healing of the nations, and overcome this and all evil with good.

 

In Christ's name and in his peace that passes understanding, Riad Jarjour, general secretary

 

Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation Expresses its Sorrow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Robert Younes, M.D.
September 11, 2001 (866) 871-4233,  (301) 983 3022, younes@hcef.org
 
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) offers its deepest sorrow regarding the horrible loss of life and terrible destruction caused by today's attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms.  We urge that all steps be taken to apprehend whoever may have been responsible for these attacks.  Those people who perpetrated this horrible crime must be caught and brought to justice as soon as possible.  HCEF condemns all violence against innocent people as a means to achieve political ends. 

Our prayers go out to all the families of the victims.  We pray that God's grace may console and comfort them.  We offer our sincere condolences to these families who have lost loved ones.  We pray that the injured will make rapid recoveries from their injuries.  The brave firefighters, police and all others who responded to this emergency deserve our heartfelt support and admiration for their extraordinary efforts to save as many lives as possible.

We offer our support for the work of the President of the United States in his efforts to unite Americans and bring normalcy once again to our country.  We know his leadership in the aftermath of this "day of horror" will bring peace to those who suffered and justice for those who transgressed the bounds of all decency.  We are certain that the United States will respond to this tragedy with all the resources at its disposal to mend and heal the damage inflicted on our nation.  We call on all good members of the HCEF family to redouble their efforts to end violence and to bring justice and peace throughout the world.  Our prayers are offered for our leaders to help our nation rebuild our lives with determination to end all violence and destruction forever.

http://www.hcef.org/news/news/newsview.cfm?itemid=324&nType=Press
( The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax exempt, non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land by developing bonds of solidarity with Christians in the United States.  HCEF, PO Box 6687, Silver Spring, MD 20906.  (301) 871-9222, Fax (301) 871-2277.  www.hcef.org.  email: News@hcef.org, Toll Free (866) 871-4233


Statement of Pax Christi International

 

Wednesday, 12 September 2001

 

Pax Christi International condemns the gruesome terrorist actions that took place in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania Tuesday, September 11. We wish to express our deeply felt condolences and sympathy for the victims, families and friends of those killed or injured in yesterday’s attacks.  We keep them in our prayers. We especially extend a message of solidarity with the members of Pax Christi USA whose lives have been personally and dramatically affected by this tragedy.

 

Pax Christi International urges leaders in the United States and Internationally to react rationally, with deliberation rather then with haste, out of anger. We encourage all people to resist the call for an escalation of violence, the urge to scapegoat, and the intensification of hatred and biases.

 

Pax Christi International calls upon the International Christian community to remain prayerful; to promote peace, forgiveness, compassion; to encourage reconciliation; to advance dialogue especially with the Islamic community in the USA and elsewhere; and to aid wherever possible in the healing of the United States from this great disaster. 

 

Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, former President of Pax Christi International, will lead a prayer service at 19:30 this evening, Wednesday 12 September, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, 22-24 rue Van Maerlant, in the centre of the EU quarter of Brussels, to remember all those affected by the terrorist attacks in the United States yesterday.  Staff from Pax Christi International will attend along with John Coughlan of the executive committee.

 

 

STATEMENT OF THE LAITY COMMITTEE OF THE HOLY LAND
JERUSALEM

 

Dear Americans

It was with great astonishment and deep sorrow we have received the news over the media.

This is the work of no human. It is the doing of the devil in a human body and only God is capable of the answer. As Christian Palestinians we pray for the lost souls, and the wounded and the families in grief. Our faith in God is great and we need it to be so, especially in these difficult moments. We ask the American decision makers to be Christians and not to think of revenge as the only answer for these disastrous crimes.

 

Prayers from the Holy Land

From Dr. Maria C. Khoury

Department of Education, English Language Studies

 

As we hear about the tragic attacks happening in America this week, on behalf of the children and the teachers in the Latin Patriarchate Schools of Jerusalem, whom I have worked with very closely the last two years, we send our fervent prayers for peace in America and in our world. We pray these attacks against humanity will stop and the Grace of the Holy Spirit will guide our lives. We pray that innocent people will stop being killed and hurt regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, color and/or religion. We are deeply saddened in Palestine when others in the world experience the terror, fear and bombs that overshadow are lives everyday. We pray for peace.

 

As you, our American friends have shown us your solidarity, your support, your very kind emails, your compassion and your prayers during these dreadful and tragic eleven months of our Palestinian uprising, please know that many of us today have you in our prayers for peace and safety in America. “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.”

 

 

Important note to our dear readers

We really hope that you enjoy what we try to send you and find it useful, and if you need any further information, please feel free to contact us: nonviolence@writeme.com 

* But, you have to take in consideration that this newsletter is not an official newsletter of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem;

* Only the documents signed by the Patriarch himself, express an official position, but all the other news, articles and documents express the personal opinion of their authors;

* I remain the only responsible of the presentation and the editorials of this newsletter, which is wanted to be a simple instrument of information without any pretension;

* We don’t side with anybody, we only side with the truth, and strive for human rights, justice, peace and reconciliation for everybody as usual.

Thank you for your understanding & Best wishes from Jerusalem        Fr. Raed Abusahlia