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CARDINALS CALL FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND
VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2001 (VIS) - The College of Cardinals today made
public a Message for the closing of the sixth extraordinary consistory, held
in the Vatican from May 21 to 23. The cardinals called for peace in the Holy
Land and for an end to the wars and tensions in Africa.
The 155 cardinals who gathered in the consistory thanked the Lord, with the
entire Church, for the fruits of the Holy Year of 2000. "We are
convinced," they write, "that the great legacy which the Jubilee
offers us ... is the renewing ... of our confession of faith in Jesus
Christ."
Excerpts from the Message follow:
"The prayerful contemplation of Christ, while it leads to the
communion of love with Him, nourishes the evangelizing mission of the
Church."
"The condition, strength, and fruit of the evangelizing mission is
communion, the unity of the disciples, for which Christ prayed.
"In a world heavily marked by injuries and conflicts and in a Church
which bears the wounds of divisions, we more strongly feel the duty of
cultivating the spirituality of communion: both within the Christian community
and in continuing, with charity, truth, and faith, the ecumenical journey and
interreligious dialogue, following the exemplary impetus which comes to us
from the Holy Father.
"Communion urges the Church to act in solidarity with humanity,
particularly in the present context of globalization with the growing numbers
of poor, suffering, and those whose sacrosanct rights to life, health,
culture, social participation, and religious freedom are violated.
"Towards the peoples who suffer from tensions and wars we renew our
commitment to work for justice, solidarity, and peace. Our thoughts
particularly go out to Africa, where many peoples are tried by ethnic
conflicts, by continual poverty, and by serious illnesses. The solidarity of
the entire Church goes out to Africa.
"Together with the Holy Father, we address a heartfelt call to all
Christians that they may intensify their prayer for peace in the Holy Land,
and we ask the leaders of nations to help the Israelis and Palestinians to
live together peacefully. In the Land of Jesus the situation lately has been
aggravated and too much blood has been shed. In union with the Holy Father, we
entreat the parties involved to immediately reach a cease-fire and to resume
dialogue on a level of equality and mutual respect."
Jerusalem Journal # 20
In
the various troubled spots of our world there has been a courageous group of
men and women, trained in non-violence, who have gone to Haiti, to Columbia,
Chiapas, Puerto Rico, and in 1995 they were invited by Mayor Natshe of Hebron,
here in the West Bank of Palestine, to come and make their presence felt in
this ancient town. These men and women of the Christian Peacemaker Team, are
not connected to any particular country or any particular religious
denomination. They are Christians who take Jesus' message of peace seriously
and walk into areas of conflict to offer a non-violent presence, risking their
lives for peace.
In
the ancient town of Hebron the Palestinians welcomed them with typical
Palestinian hospitality, while the Jewish settlers have refused to accept the
Christian Peacemaker Team and still call them "Nazis", among other
non-complimentary names. Today the Team is made up of six people form Canada
and the United States: a Basililan priest, a Mercy sister and four lay people,
who intervene between the settlers of Hebron and the native Palestinians. The
Team lives together as a community in an apartment building in the most
troubled area of downtown Hebron. Every morning they meet together for prayer
and then go out as "peacemakers".
When
Hebron is quiet, they leave and travel to other troubled areas under Israeli
occupation. They have been in the Bethlehem area which is constantly under
fire from the Israeli army, staying with families whose homes have become
targets; they have marched in various demonstrations, and simply been were
they were needed, being present and suffering with the oppressed.
The
Christian Peacemaker Team is made up of "full-timers", those who
make this work their full-time occupation, entering the country on a tourist
visa and staying the full three months; then going back to their homelands for
a month or so, before returning to the Peacemaker Team. There are also
"reservists" who have full time jobs elsewhere and respond to a call
when they are needed.
The
Team is in very volatile situations here in this country and has often faced
the Israeli army. Many people have thanked God that these Peacemakers have
come here to be a non-violent presence, a message of hope and peace in this
conflict. Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Homelie
du P. William Shomali en Suisse
Eminence,
cardinal Schwery,
Excellence,
Lieutenant Ciocarelli,
1.
Je vous apporte le salut de l’Eglise de Jérusalem et surtout celui de S.B. le
Patriarche Michel Sabbah qui aurait voulu être présent aujourd’hui parmi
nous mais il a été empêché par les implications de la situation actuelle
en Terre Sainte, qui a évolué d’une manière dramatique. Il vous exprime
au nom des Chrétiens de la Terre Sainte son amitié et aussi sa gratitude
pour tout ce que votre lieutenance fait pour la Terre de Jésus. Le Séminaire,
le maintien du clergé, les écoles et les presbytères que vous avez
construits et que vous continuez à soutenir sont témoins de votre foi et de
votre charité.
2.
Vous méritez d’entendre aujourd’hui les paroles que St Paul a adressées
aux Corinthiens après une collecte en faveur de l’Eglise de Jérusalem,
collecte qu’il appelle “service”- quant aux chrétiens il les appelle
les saints: “Le service de cette offrande, écrit Saint Paul, ne pourvoit
pas seulement aux besoins des saints; il est encore une source abondante de
nombreuses actions de grâces envers Dieu…, ils glorifient Dieu pour la générosité
de votre communion avec eux. Leur prière pour vous, continue Saint Paul,
manifeste la tendresse qu’ils vous portent.” (II
Cor. 9: 12-14b).
3. Votre amour pour Jérusalem me fait parler de la situation
actuelle que vivent les chrétiens de la Palestine pour que vous continuiez à
les porter dans votre prière et votre charité.
.
L’Eglise de Terre Sainte aujourd’hui est réduite à 2./. de la
population en Israel-Palestine et 3./. en Jordanie. Un total de 350000 chrétiens,
dont la moitié se trouve en Palestine et Israel et un nombre égal en
Jordanie. La catholiques de rite latin sont 75000 et autant de catholiques de
rite oriental. Notre petit nombre est compensé par une présence active dans
le domaine social surtout éducatif et sanitaire. En plus des 12 hopitaux
catholiques dont le caritas Baby Hospital qui est soutenu par l’Eglise de
Suisse et de l’Eglise d’Allemangne, nous sommes fiers de notre université
catholique à Béthléem, de nos écoles catholiques qui sont, au point de vue
qualité, parmi les meilleures dans le pays. Y étudient plus de 60,000 étudiants
dont le tiers fréquente les écoles du Patriarcat Latin. Nos étudiants sont
chrétiens et musulmans car, en plus de l’enseignement, nous avons
l’ambition d’éduquer les enfants à accepter la diversité et à vivre
avec l’autre. Au fond, le problème majeur de cette terre, qui a deux
peuples et trois grandes religions, est le manque de dialogue interreligieux
et l’antagonisme nationaliste. Nous avons besoin d’éduquer nos enfants,
avenir de la société, à la coexistence et à la paix. Cette paix devrait être
imprimée dans les coeurs avant de l’être dans les traités de paix
officiels.
Parmi nos écoles catholiques, il faut faire une mention particulière
des écoles tenues par le Patriarcat dans presque toutes nos paroisses et
maintenues en partie grâce à votre générosité. Nos écoles paroissiales
s’adressent surtout à la classe moyenne et pauvre. Il faut dire que dans
les temps actuels, elles souffrent d’une crise économique aigue. Nous
sommes devant un dilemme: ou bien en fermer quelques unes, ou recourir à une
autre formule: sacrifier le service des élèves pauvres et les convertir en
écoles commerciales de profit. Pour dire la vérité, nous sommes encore
perplexes, ne sachant que faire. Mais tôt ou tard, sans des subsides
particulières, nous serons obligés à prendre des décisions très
difficiles.
4.
Le problème palestinien dure depuis un siècle car deux peuples réclament la
même terre au nom de deux droits différents. Le peuple juif la réclament au
nom d’un droit divin et d’une promesse divine; le peuple palestinien au
nom d’un droit historique qui continue depuis le 7eme siècle. Les
palestiniens appellent la Palestine terre occupée, les Israéliens terre libérée.
Ceux-ci se permettent de construire des implantations
dans toute la Palestine, les autres protestent et réagissent pour faire
enlever ces implantations. C’est pourquoi les compromis territoriaux
deviennent impossibles. Car il y a deux langages différents et deux
visions irréconciliables et irréconciliées. Ce que les Isréliens appellent
concessions généreuses, les Palestiniens l’appellent restitution
insuffisante. Ce double langage et cette incompréhension réciproques sont à
l’origine de ce conflit et ont rendu le processus de paix boiteux et équivoque.
Ce qui rend la question encore plus difficle est la question de Jérusalem.
Ville sainte pour les trois religions, elle devrait être lieu du dialogue et
cité de la Paix comme son nom l’indique. En effet, Jérusalem ou
Jeroushalaim veut dire étymologiquement vision de la paix. Mais elle est
pratiquement la cause et le coeur du conflit. Car la même cité est sacrée
et contestée en même temps. Sa grandeur et sa misère viennent du fait
qu’elle est sacrée. L’esplanade de la mosquée est revendiquée par les
deux religions. La visite de M.Sharon à ce lieu saint a causé la dernière
ondée de violence. Commencée à Jérusalem, elle a englobé vite toute la
Palestine et même l’intérieur de la ligne verte, les villes arabes
d’Israel ou vivent un million d’arabes naturalisés israéliens.
5.
Les résultats de ce soulèvement sont dramatiques.
500 morts du coté palestinien, 80 du coté israelien. 15000 blessés
du coté palestinien et 1000 du coté israelien. Des centaines de maisons détruites,
le chomage qui remonte, dans les villes palestiniennes, à 40-60./. à cause
du blocus économique, le manque de permis donnés aux palestiniens pour aller
travailler en Israel et la circulation parmi les villes palestiniennes rendue
difficile par le blocus sinon impossible. Sans mentionner les répercussions négatives
de la violence sur la psychologie des enfants qui passent des nuits blanches
et qui doivent aller le lendemain à l’école. C’est devenu,
malheureusement un pain quotidien.
6. Pendant que j’écrivais ces lignes, nous avons reçu un coup de
fil de Beit Jala informant que les Israéliens tiraient sur la ville, qui
englobe le séminaire et la première paroisse du Patriarcat de Jérusalem.
Deux tués du coté palestinien et 7 blessés dont un enfant chrétien
de 5 ans qui étudie dans le kindergarten de notre école paroissiale. Enfant
unique de sa famille pauvre, il a eu la main coupée.. Ce qui est arrivé à
BJ se répète chaque jour à Gaza, Ramallah, Jéricho, Naplouse et ailleurs.
C’est triste comme est triste l’usage des bombes suicides pratiquées par
des palestiniens désespérés.
Le
Patriarche a raison de dire que “la violence palestinienne et la violence
israélienne qui lui répond sont l’effet d’une même cause:
l’occupation israélienne”
7.
Parlant du cycle de violence, il faut aussi parler de la paix. L’unique
issue pour ce cycle infernal est le retour aux négotiations de paix: “La
paix, continue le Patriarche, a besoin de chefs politques qui soient dotés
d’une vision et du courage pour marcher dans le sens de leurs convictions et
qui soient prêts à sacrifier leur siège et peut être leur vie.”
C’est
alors que Jérusalem deviendra de nouveau la cité de la paix. Ce sera alors
un modèle de paix pour toutes les autres cités et pour toutes les situations
en conflit dans le monde. Mais avant d’atteindre cette vision béatifique,
il faut peiner, prier et travailler beaucoup pour comprendre le mystère de Jérusalem:
“Pour
entrer dans le mystère de Jérusalem, dit un de nos théologiens
palestiniens, il ne suffit pas de répéter les lieux communs de la propagande
politiqe et de se plier aux intérêts immédiats les plus primitifs. Jérusalem
n’est pas à définir à partir de nos passions mais à partir de son esprit
caché et de la splendeur de son mystère. Il ne faut pas abaisser Jérusalem
au niveau de nos étroitesses d’esprit, mais nous élever tous à la hauteur
de son mystère. C’est à cette condition qu’elle peut prodiguer avec
grande générosité ses dons pour tous.” P. Rafiq Khoury
8.
Vous avez bien fait, pour célébrer les investitures, de choisir la messe de
l’exaltation de la Sainte Croix. Nous pensons durant cette messe à la croix
de Jésus qui a sauvé le monde et qui nous a obtenu le pardon des péchés.
Nous pensons aussi aux souffrances de tous les innocents du monde entier et
surtout aux victimes de la violence en Palestine et en Israel pour que leur
souffrance acquière une valeur devant Dieu et nous mérite la paix. Que le
sang des innocents devienne finalement la semence d’une paix définitive.
9. Au terme de cette homélie, en plus de la prière
pour la Paix en Terre Sainte, nous prierons pour l’intention des nouveaux
membres adoubés. Nous remercions le Seigneur parce que l’Ordre croît en
nombre et s’engage toujours plus envers la Terre Sainte. Nous prions pour
vous tous, chevaliers, dames et clergé, afin que le Seigneur vous inpsire
courage dans le service de la Terre Sainte et des chrétiens qui comptent sur
votre générosité et votre prière.
P. William Shomali
Internationals
set up protection camp in West Bank
Thursday, May 24, 2001 For
Information: Heidi 052-290-173
For Immediate Release
or afjp@arabia.com
(Ramallah) Over 100 internationals in Palestine came together on
Wednesday, 23rd May to protest Israel's continuing and escalating
aggression against the Palestinian people. The group comprised of
students, professionals and aid workers representing over
15 countries began their initiative with a press
briefing across from the Grand Park Hotel in Ramallah,
at the site of a building destroyed with
(U.S.-supplied) Israeli F-16 fighter jets on May 18.
The group then marched through the streets of Ramallah to al-Muqata'a, the
main headquarters of the PNA, where they announced that
due to the likelihood that this site would be a target of an Israeli
attack, they would be erecting a tent in the civilian neighborhood
50 meters away.
The internationals announced that this initiative is meant to
spur the international community into action. "In the wake of the
atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people, we
deplore the silence of the UN and the international community. We
call upon our respective governments to take decisive measures to
force Israel to comply with international and humanitarian laws,"
said group spokesperson Heidi Arraf. "The world has failed
to protect the Palestinian people from a brutal
occupying force. We're stepping in where our governments
have failed," said a participant, Lucy
Spencer.
Internationals will be in the tent from 5pm until 8am each night
and warmly welcome locals, foreigners, officials, diplomats, and
journalists. International consular representatives are requested
to visit.
End [see press statement below]
==========================
Press
Statement, 23 May 2001
Internationals in Palestine Appeal to their Governments to Act to
End Israeli Grave Violations of Palestinians' Rights
As representatives of the international community in Palestine we
have come together to appeal to the governments of our respective
countries to take decisive action to ensure that Israel ceases
bombing Palestinian towns and villages and ends its
illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories.
Today we will be marching in Ramallah from the
ruins of the civilian home of members of Force 17
that was bombed by F-16 fighter jets on May 18th,
to the headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority.
We believe that all bombing is illegitimate, be it of civilian
neighborhoods, or of security or PNA installations. For this
reason we will be erecting a tent in the residential neighborhood
directly across from the PNA headquarters. We realize that we may
be placing our lives at risk due to the chance that this location
could be bombed. However, the purpose of the tent is to protest
the continued bombing of civilian Palestinian areas by the
Israeli authorities, and the lack of action on
the part of the UN and the international community to prevent
persistent Israeli human rights violations. We
therefore take upon ourselves this risk in the
hope that it will spur the international community to take
practical steps to protect the Palestinian people.
We have chosen this location because we believe that it is a
potential target, and because it is located in the center
of a residential neighborhood, as all of the
"security installations" which Israeli has
bombed have been. Any strikes at this location endanger
the local civilian residents.
On May 18th Israel used (U.S.- made) F-16 fighter jets to bomb
locations in Nablus, Gaza City, and Beit Lahia as their attack
helicopters rocketed locations in Tulkarem and Deir Balah Refugee
Camp. Twelve Palestinians were killed and more than
100 were injured during these attacks. While
this is the first occasion during which F-16s
have been used, attack helicopters and tanks have
been used since October to bomb Palestinian areas
and assassinate Palestinian activists. International
condemnation of Israel's attacks has been
universal, but no effective action has been taken to
place tangible pressure upon Israel to end its unbridled
aggression against the Palestinian people.
The impetus for this protest was this recent attack, yet as
internationals living in the Occupied Territories we also stand
witness to the daily humiliations and sufferings of the
Palestinian people. During the intifada violations of
Palestinians rights have been made visible by the use of jets and
helicopters to bomb civilian areas, in roadblocks that continue
to cut off access to villages, in the destruction of property
that has left hundreds of innocent civilians homeless, and in the
economic siege that has increased unemployment and left over 60%
of the population living below the poverty line. However, these
Israeli actions merely represent concrete manifestations of
policies resulting from the continued military occupation that
deprive Palestinians of their basic human rights. The primary
cause of the intifada is these ongoing, systematic, and
institutionalized violations of Palestinians' basic rights that
affect every aspect of daily life for Palestinian residents of
the Occupied Territories. The international community and the
United Nations must now take steps to end the Israeli occupation
of the Palestinian territories.
Through this action we are moving beyond expressing our grave concern
and are taking a decisive step to work for change. It is our
hope that this may encourage action on the part of the
international community to combat human rights violations and the
continued bombings that are occurring in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. Keeping this in mind, we request
that our governments and the larger international
community take action to provide for the protection of
the Palestinian people. In light of the continuously
deteriorating human rights situation in the Occupied
Territories, we also ask that the States Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention take the necessary measures to place pressure
upon the Israeli government to stop its excessive use of force
and aggression against Palestinian civilians, and we call
upon the UN to act to enforce its resolutions and demand that
Israel abide by international law.
 Friends
and Partners Newsletter
From the Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem
Bishop Munib A. Younan
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine
http://www.holyland-lutherans.org
May 2001
§
The Bishop’s
Visit to Iran
The
Bishop’s Visit to Iran
As a member of the Executive Committee of the Middle
East Council of Churches (MECC) I had the opportunity to visit Iran early this
month. This was the first official visit by the MECC to Iran, and even the
first Christian meeting there since 1979. Besides the meeting of the Executive
Committee there was also time to make pastoral visits to the local churches.
We were indeed very well received. Our hosts stressed time and again the
encouragement and joy they felt being visited by Arab Christians representing
other local churches in the region. We were very happy to meet with
representatives and ordinary members of the Armenian-Orthodox, Evangelical,
Anglican and Roman-Catholic churches living in Iran. I must admit, that in
Iran, I discovered my role as an Arab Palestinian Christian, that is so much
needed for the witness of the Church in the Middle East. This role is a call
for us to be the carriers of the torch of resurrection.
Among
the many important events taking place during the visit was a Christian-Muslim
Interfaith dialogue organized by Ayatollah Taschiri, the Director of the
Department of Culture. This influential connection gave a link to the
governing circles in Iran and an exposure to the first official dialogue of
this kind. I was even asked to present a paper in which I called religion to
assume its role for building just peace and reconciliation. The event was
televised nation-wide and was the first program of this kind in Iran.
In
the program the Iranian Moslem representative stressed three basic conditions
for real Interfaith dialogue. First, that the aim of religion is to glorify
God and not ourselves. Second, that the participators in dialogue should be
religious people rather than non-religious. Third, that there is a need to
reevaluate the religions, and differentiate between their real image and the
perverted forms that have arisen due to various historical events. As
examples, Taschiri mentioned Zionism as a perversion of Judaism, the Crusades
as a perversion of Christianity, and the Afghan Taliban’s destruction of
Budda’s statutes as a perversion of Islam.
The
MECC visit to Iran was very successful, and served as a source of inspiration
and strength to the witness of the Christian minority there, counting some
600,000 out of Iran’s total population of 65 million.
Celebrations of School Anniversaries in
Beit Sahour and Talitha Kumi
Although
we are living in a political crisis, where the shooting and shelling is
frequently heard and felt, our people have not stopped from rejoicing. We
rejoiced in the 100th anniversary of Beit Sahour Lutheran School
and thanked God for the Christian witness this school has been giving during
all the years. Many people in our community – young as well as old – came
out to support and rejoice in the celebrations, and to have joy in life. In
the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, May 6th in the church in Beit
Sahour we were however sadly reminded of the ongoing crises, as we could hear
the sound of heavy shelling in the distance, hitting private houses in nearby
Beit Jala.
At
Talitha Kumi School, we were joined by many guests from abroad, who came to
support the 150th year celebration. Over the years the school has
sustained many difficulties. We are grateful to God that the school has been
able to continue its work, despite the fact that the original property of TK
in West Jerusalem had been confiscated in 1948, and despite the fact that it
is situated now in an area where severe fighting has been taking place time
and again during the last eight months of Intifada. Our son Andrea also
graduated this year from Talitha Kumi. Like all Palestinian parents we worry a
lot about the future possibilities for our children.
He wants to study computer science, but there are concerns what kind of
opportunities there will be for him and his classmates.
In
this time of crisis we are very much disturbed to learn that more and more
families (both Christian and Muslim) are seriously considering emigration as
the only option to find security and a future for their children and youth. In
the past we have experienced difficult times and have seen the percentage of
Christians in the population decreasing to around 2%, but in all this I have
never been so seriously afraid for the future of the Christian presence in the
Holy Land as I am now.
In
my speech at the Talitha Kumi graduation I tried to address this matter.
Although the thoughts of emigrating are understandable in a time when many
people no longer have an income, I pointed out the importance of people
staying on with a will of contributing in ways suitable for them to the
development of our civil modern society and our country. At this point in time
patience is needed more than ever before. But will our people be able to be
patient? In the present difficulties we need to support one another and
together keep hope alive, just as has happened many times during the last
century of schoolwork.
During
this scholastic year we have been very determined to keep our schools
operating as normal as possible regardless of the situation. Thanks to our
devoted staff we have been able to continue the education of the children in
the midst of serious difficulties. The future of the schools is a great
concern for us. The impact of the crisis on the Palestinian economy will be
much more felt during this year. A large number of parents are not able to pay
tuition fees, as they do not have income. How will we be able to keep the
schools open in this situation?
The
Coordination Committee of Overseas Partners (COCOP) had their annual meeting
in Beit Jala this year. The choice of venue is a reflection of the present
situation. Had the meeting been held in Jerusalem many of our own people would
not have been able to attend. The days before and after the meeting there was
extensive shelling of Beit Jala. However, during the three days of meeting the
town was quiet. The meeting proved very successful. Among the most important
items on the agenda was the restructuring of the old COCOP into a new
organization allowing for the mutual cooperation between ELCJ and her
partners. There was full agreement on the principles for this new form of
cooperation, which will be functioning next year. Then the bishop of the ELCJ
will be chairing the meeting together with the Rev. Dr. Said Ailabouni, ELCA,
who was elected co-chairperson for the coming two years. The name COCOP will
be retained, but is now to be spelled out as ”The Coordination Committee for
Co-operation between the ELCJ and her Partners”. We are very grateful for
the good work done by OKR Hannes Gaenssbauer of VELKD, as chairperson of the
old COCOP. He had asked not to be considered as co-chair in the new COCOP. We
are, however, very glad to have him with us also next year as a representative
of VELKD in COCOP.
We
are very pleased to be able to move into a new structure for our cooperation
with our partners, where our mutual interdependency is clearly reflected. The
relationships with COCOP as well as with our other partners are essential for
the life and witness of the ELCJ, as they have an impact on various levels of
our church. Through these long-term relations mutual love and stewardship is
being implanted in the hearts of leaders and grassroots both here and
overseas. We are very thankful for our partners. Being partners is a privilege
– but also a challenge for God’s mission in our respective countries. It
is a challenge for a common martyria.
Swedish
Theological Institute (STI) Anniversary
As
the STI celebrated its 50th anniversary in Jerusalem, I was honored
to speak about ”Religion and Politics in the Holy Land”. I called on the
three monotheistic religions to be prophetic and work to wake up the
conscience of the world that is sleeping. Religion can never accept injustice
or occupation. The three religions should stand up for truth and justice, then
they can prepare the way of reconciliation. But, does religion dare to speak
against the trends? Does religion dare say: Stop the spiral of violence, the
hatred, the extremism and the fear? Does religion dare to demand justice and
implement it? Does religion dare to say that only the freedom of the
Palestinians will bring the security of the Israelis? Does religion dare to
say that Israelis and Palestinians need to share the country equally,
equitably and in justice?
Since
my last newsletter the situation has deteriorated further. The excessive use
of force has paralyzed the economic life of the Palestinians, and created
frustration, fear, trauma, hatred, and an urge for revenge among the vast
majority of the population. The
recent Israeli use of F16 fighter jets to bomb targets in densely populated
areas like Nablus, Ramallah, and Gaza is a serious escalation of the conflict.
There is no way that such action can be justified as retaliation for
the terrible suicide bombing in the shopping center in Netanya. The effect of
such acts-as the continued shelling of Gaza and Beit Jala and other places by
tanks and helicopters-is a growing sense of revenge and retaliation in our
society. Thus the most extremist views are being nurtured on both sides of the
divide between the two people, which most likely will make the spiral of
violence grow even further.
In
this situation there were hopes that the release of the long awaited Mitchell
Report would give a glimmer of hope. I think the points made by the Mitchell
Commission on the whole are good and balanced. But as long as its
recommendations are being accepted until now, only by the Palestinians, there
is little chance that the report will have any direct impact on the present
crisis. What is needed now is strong action from the U.S., Europe and the
international community to exert pressure on both parties to implement the
Mitchell recommendations as a basis for a new effort to stop the acute
violence and move towards a resumption of talks to achieve a just and lasting
peace.
As
we realistically foresee that the peace we are looking for still remains in
the distance, we request that ecumenical observers be sent to stay with us to
witness the suffering and injustice, to support us in our yearning to secure a
just peace. We ask you, our partners, to stand by us and to be part of our
ministry. We belong to you as you
belong to us. Our mission is yours, as your mission is ours. We are carrying
the death and resurrection of the Lord in our bodies. For this reason we are
not afraid; and nobody and nothing will be able to separate us from the love
of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Please
do not cease to pray that our Savior may continue to give us courage, power,
and perseverance and wisdom to be His living witness in the troubles Holy
Land.
May
God bless you all.
Bishop
Munib A. Younan
The
Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem
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