wfn.org | U.S. Church Leaders Protest Palestinian ID Card

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

Seizure

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Internet: news@ncccusa.org

Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227

NCC2/8/99          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. CHURCH LEADERS PROTEST SEIZURE OF PALESTINIAN ID CARDS
Their Letters Support Jerusalem Patriarchs in Opposition to 
Israeli Government Policy

 NEW YORK, February 8 ---- National Council of Churches 
General Secretary Joan B. Campbell has joined 26 other U.S. 
church leaders in letters - released publicly this morning 
(Feb. 8) - protesting the Israeli government policy of 
confiscation of identification cards from East Jerusalem 
Palestinians, with the consequent loss of right of residency 
in Jerusalem.

 The two letters - one to the Israeli government and the 
other to the three principal heads of churches in Jerusalem 
- were sent for delivery today.  The first was addressed to 
the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Zalman Shoval, 
in Washington, D.C., and the second to Patriarch Diodoros I 
(Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem), Patriarch Michel 
Sabbah (Latin Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem), and 
Patriarch Torkom Manoogian (Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate 
of Jerusalem).

 Last October, the three Jerusalem church leaders had 
written to the Israeli Minister of the Interior, expressing 
deep concern about the 600 percent increase over two years 
in the number of cards being confiscated.  "Hard-working and 
peace-seeking Christians are being forced out of the 
city.(M)any of these families or individuals face losing 
their access to the city of their birth through the 
revocation of their residency rights," they wrote.

 "We must remind you that what impacts Palestinians in 
general doubly impacts the Christian Palestinians in 
particular," the Patriarchs wrote.  They called on the State 
of Israel to safeguard the rights of the Christian 
communities, halt future confiscations and rescind recent 
changes in its policies.  Since the Patriarchs' letters, 
there has been no change in Israeli policy.

 Led by their U.S. counterparts in the Greek Orthodox, 
Armenian Orthodox and Roman Catholic hierarchies, top 
Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders wrote a 
strong letter of support to the Jerusalem patriarchs and 
addressed their own letter of protest to the Israeli 
Ambassador to the United States. 

 In that second letter, the church leaders wrote, "The 
churches in the Holy City of Jerusalem are not composed only 
of stones, but more importantly are communities of faithful, 
worshipping believers.  Any further diminution of their 
numbers or weakening of their vitality is a matter of great 
concern to the churches everywhere."

 DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST (including the 
letters and list of church leaders giving their signatures 
of support.)

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