wfn.org | Christians determined to continue witness in Jerusalem

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Dec. 12, 2000 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.     10-71B{561}

NOTE:  This is the second story from an ecumenical delegation of U.S.
Christians visiting Israel.  Accompanying the group is UMNS photojournalist
Mike DuBose.  His photos may be found at the UMNS photo gallery
http://umns.umc.org/jerusalem/ online. For related coverage, see UMNS
stories #559, #560, #562 and #563.

By James Solheim*

JERUSALEM (UMNS) --  "The number of Christians in Palestine is dwindling so
much that the situation is becoming dangerous," Armenian Patriarch Torkom II
told a visiting delegation of U.S. church leaders during a conversation in
Jerusalem.  

Despite the bleak future, he declared, "we are here, and we will be here in
the future because the holy places are not museums." Noting that "it is a
miracle that we have survived," he said Christians are determined to "make
our presence strong-and to make it heard and seen."

The Armenian Patriarch and other Christian leaders said that the churches
are living in extremely difficult times. "As Christian communities we have
our problems. So far we have not succeeded in stopping the violence -- and
this is not a local concern but one for the whole world." He said the
situation is complicated by the presence of extremists on both sides.

Sometimes the difficulties are very direct. The Armenians are one of the
guardians of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the traditional
site for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. During a march to the
church every other week, he said they are spit upon by Jews who occasionally
provoke fights. "These are realities," he said. "Yet we have been here with
a history of 1,500 years and our tradition should be accepted."

"Palestinians and Israelis must live together, whether we want it or not,"
the patriarch said. The goal is for both peoples to live on their own lands
in peace and brotherhood, he said. "We want no one to suffer but to live in
peace. We have to learn, if we don't know already, how to live with each
other and pray together."

Seeing both sides

"What we need is not people who take sides but those who can see both sides
and will help seek and work for justice," Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah told
his visitors.

"The Palestinian people are under Israeli military occupation and they want
to be given back their freedom, they want the occupation to end," he said,
adding that their patience has worn very thin and there is great
disappointment in the peace negotiations over the last seven years.

That frustration has fueled the recent eruption of violence, the patriarch
contended. The Intifada that erupted after the visit of Likud Party leader
Ariel Sharon to the Haram al-Sharif ("the Noble Sanctuary") where the Dome
of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque are located was "very spontaneous, it
surprised everyone."

In conversations with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and with
Israeli leaders, Sabbah argues that the Palestinians returned to violence in
order to be heard. He urges Israelis to look at Palestinians "not only as
troublemakers," because "Palestinians don't want to kill Israelis.  They are
asking only to be free, and that freedom is in the hands of the Israelis." 

Israelis "may have won wars but they have not won the peace," he said. And
that peace won't be won through violence. He is calling for "another
vision," one beyond the increasing cycle of violence. Yet he warns Israelis
that the Palestinians are determined to continue the struggle until
they gain freedom, "and that could take many years."

Sabbah said he is trying to convince the Israelis that they have the power
to make peace.  "If
we have peace, it will be thanks to the Israelis. If we have no peace, it
will be because of the Israelis." He expressed confidence that Palestinians
"could be good neighbors," citing the
peaceful coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians within the state of Israel
for the last 50 years.

Peace would also make the Israelis better neighbors with Arab nations in the
region, he noted. "Until there is justice for the Palestinians, they will
face continued opposition from the Arabs."

Responding to Sabbah, the Rev. John McCullough of the National Council of
Churches said, "We are aware that the rocks of this country are scarred, the
soil is stained by blood. We join you in grief but also in hope, believing
that our God is all-powerful. In time, peace will be established."

Visitors bring encouragement

Welcoming the delegation, Greek Orthodox MetropolitanVassilios said, "I am
sorry to tell you how difficult our situation is in Palestine with many
villages and towns closed so that people can't come to Jerusalem to
celebrate Christmas." He added a grim note to the conversation by reporting
that eight were killed the previous day. Urging his visitors to do what they
could to stop the conflict, he said "Violence is not good for the Holy Land,
for both peoples," Israeli and Palestinian.

"This is the first place that peace was proclaimed," added Vassilios, "but
now there is no peace.  Either God does not hear us, or we are not
deserving." He said that it is not the role of the churches to propose
political solutions but rather "to identify with those who have a just
claim." He is afraid that people are so filled with bitterness that they are
not in a mood to listen to their leaders.

"We believe very strongly that this place is one where Christians, Muslims
and Jews should be able to stand together and have freedom of expression,"
responded McCullough, executive director of the National Council of Church's
Church World Service and Witness. "We are sad when we hear about the
migration of Palestinian Christians."

The Christian leaders stressed how important visitors are for the churches
because "they encourage us to bear the burden when it often seems that we
are alone." They urged  the Ul.S. delegation to send other visitors to
reinforce relationships.

Prayer undergirds visit

"Our churches are bound together in prayer," said former presiding bishop of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Herbert Chilstrom in his opening
comments at an ecumenical discussion at the Greek Patriarchate. He described
how the ecumenical movement in the United States "has been a miracle," and
"as a result of the spirit of God walls are coming down. We bring that as
part of our witness to you."

The Rev. Peter Vasko of the Franciscans raised the issue of Christian
emigration again, pointing out that there are only 160,000 to 170,000
Christians in a population of seven million in Israel, the West Bank and
Gaza. "Christians need to continue to remain here."

Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and
Palestine) issued an urgent plea: "You must not allow the Christian witness
to cease." He said that the Christian churches here are "the local
expression of Christianity worldwide."

Some members of the delegation expressed embarrassment and anger with the
American role in providing military support for Israel. "It is chilling to
see the label of our country on the shells used to destroy homes," said
Donella Clemens of the Mennonite Central Executive Committee.

Same pain, same hope

"We Muslims and Christians live in this town as family, with the same pains
and the same hopes," said Sheikh Muhammed Hussein in his opening comments to
the delegation crammed into his offices near the Dome of the Rock. "We have
full respect for each other."

He echoed comments of Christian leaders about difficulties of expressing
religion in a climate of freedom. To illustrate, he  pointed to the hassle
by Israeli security in trying to prevent the delegation from entering the
area and an attempt to prevent delivery of some construction
blocks. He said that the delegation was "carrying for us hope" that would
help overcome obstacles.

"As Palestinians we deserve to live in peace, just as other nations. We have
hopes that your churches will carry the message to government officials," he
said.

Bishop Edmond Browning of the Episcopal Church said that one purpose of the
visit was "to build solidarity between us." He said that the churches
represented in the delegation were committed to the peace process and to
those who are suffering. He also pointed to a Prayer Vigil for Middle East
Peace that began December 3 in many churches across the United States. "It
is our intention to continue the vigil until violent acts cease and peace is
achieved," he said.

In response, the Hussein said, "It is well-known that we want international
legitimacy." That would include full implementation of the U.N. resolutions
that say Jerusalem is occupied territory. "We want full implementation,
based on justice and truth." Yet it is not clear, he said, what kind of
solution the Israelis want. "Sometimes it seems hopeless."

"Our people will live side by side with the Israelis-but only with dignity,"
he declared. The delegation was asked to pressure the U.S. administration
"to allow us to live with dignity as Palestinians."

As the conversation ended, Hussein took the group through Dome of the Rock
and Al Aqsa Mosque, offering historical and theological commentary. He took
the delegation on a dramatic walk, showing the path where Sharon and Israeli
troops had crossed through the area, arguing that "only Prime Minister Barak
could have stopped this provocation." Only outside support would prevent
what he called "ethnic cleansing."

The delegation presented a crystal plate in the form of a dove, a symbol of
peace in both  religions. The sheikh expressed his gratitude for the visit
and pointed to a large print on the wall of his office, expressing his hope
that the dove and the peace that it represents would fly over the city of
Jerusalem.

Members of the U.S. delegation scattered Sunday morning, Dec. 10, to a
variety of worship services in the area, including indigenous Palestinian
parishes. 

#  #  #

*Solheim is director of the Episcopal Church's Office of News and
Information and is serving as press officer for the peace delegation.

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org