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Prayer Vigil   

November 19, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

Adventist Jews And Palestinians United In Prayer 
Vigil   

Jerusalem. Israel.        The president of the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel, Pastor Richard 
Elofer, has voiced his concern over the violence 
currently taking place between the Jews and Palestinians 
which has claimed lives on both sides, and which 
threatens to destroy the peace efforts.

"We are very concerned with what is happening," says 
Elofer.  "We want to see peace in this country and we 
want the negotiation process to continue and result 
in a satisfactory conclusion for all people."

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been present in 
Israel for over 70 years and consists of 17 congregations 
with over 1,000 members. Church members, including Jews 
and Palestinians, together with others of different 
backgrounds, came together to pray last weekend over 
the crisis.

"From Friday sunset until sunset on Monday we had a 24-hour 
day prayer watch over the crisis which coincided with the 
Jewish festival Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement - the time 
when the Jews pray for forgiveness," reports Elofer.

"We prayed for peace in our country. We are not involved 
in the political issues and activities but as a church we 
are very much concerned that people live in peace, 
reconciled and focussing on the values which the Bible 
presents and whose principles we use as a base of our faith.  
We pray for the protection of all people in Israel. We 
cannot justify violence and conflict which is taking place 
in our country.  We invite all of you, our friends, to 
think about us and make time to pray for the people of 
Israel," concludes Elofer.