wfn.org | U.S. Ecumenical Peace Delegation Meets Israeli Leaders

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

Contact:  Jim Solheim, press officer
Notre Dame Center
Jerusalem
Tel: (973-2)627-9111

Episcopal News Service 
New York City, NY USA
Tel: 800-334-7626

Website: www.loga.org or www.loga.org/delegationhome.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Ecumenical Delegation to Jerusalem
December 7-12, 2000]

December 12, 2000

Peace delegation meets Israeli leaders, issues final statement at press 
conference

By James Solheim    

JERUSALEM, December 12, 2000--On its last day in Jerusalem, the West Bank and 
Gaza, an ecumenical peace delegation of American church leaders met with the 
mayor of Jerusalem, officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the top 
Palestinian leader in Jerusalem—and issued a final statement at a press 
conference.

The final statement said that the delegation "heard the voices of people…seen 
the impact of Israeli settlements that strangulate and isolate the 
Palestinian people from one another…heard the terror in the voices of Israeli 
Jews and Palestinian Christians and Muslims alike…We believe that our faith 
calls us to tell the truth of what we have seen and that, unless we share 
with the world what we have seen, the stones will cry out.  We are persuaded 
that the peace which must come for all—Israeli and Palestinian alike—can 
only be achieved on a firm foundation of justice."

The statement made "an urgent plea that all parties heed the moral imperative 
to do justice," and urges "the community of nations and all people who love 
mercy to recognize and condemn this new apartheid that oppresses the 
Palestinian people."

In order to achieve peace, the statement said, it is necessary that Israel 
withdraw from Palestinian areas to the 1967 borders, in fulfillment of the 
U.N. resolutions.  It also offered some steps to achieve justice:

   *both sides cease all acts of violence;

   *Israeli forces end the use of disproportionate force;

   *suspend current sales of U.S. attack helicopters to Israel;

   *stop Israeli confiscation of land, house demolitions, closures, 
destruction of agriculture and expansion of settlements;

   *provide immediate international protection for Palestinians;

   *seek accountability for U.S. aid to Israel;

   *provide humanitarian aid for the Palestinians; and

   *devise a plan to share the city of Jerusalem.

Press conference expands on statement

At a press conference, members of the delegation described their encounters 
during the visit and expanded on their statement.
   
Bishop Vincent Warner of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia (Washington) said 
that his encounter with a nine-year-old girl in the area south of Gaza City 
where the Israelis had bulldozed an orchard put a "human face on the 
suffering."  And that is why, he said, "the statement is passionate and 
urgent."
   
In answering a question, Bishop Herbert Chilstrom of the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church in America (ELCA) said that the impression that American churches tend 
to give greater support to the Israelis is "sometimes based on a reading of 
Scripture that says that this land should belong to the Jews."  On the other 
hand, he said that he has concluded that "this is a justice issue."  
Palestinians whose families go back centuries are being uprooted.  "We are 
here to protect their rights while advocating the rights of the Israelis," he 
said.
   
Bishop Edmond Browning, former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, 
responded to a question about the delegation's strategy by stating that 
members plan to contact members of Congress and "tell the story of what we 
have witnessed." 

And the delegation is determined to raise the issue of Palestinian suffering 
in the churches they represent, both nationally and internationally, 
suggesting ways that the church can be involved in the search for peace.
   
Bishop Margaret Payne of the ELCA's New England Synod said that she had seen 
"the damage that violence does to all parties," convincing her that "all 
parties must cease violent acts" if there is any chance for peace.

Jerusalem most tolerant city in world

"No matter what, you can believe that the Israeli people will do everything 
in their power to maintain religious freedom," Mayor Ehud Olmert said in 
welcoming the delegation to the council room at City Hall.  "It's our source 
of pride."
   
Olmert said that "not a single city in the world hosts more churches," adding 
that it was his responsibility "to make sure that every Christian believer 
can come to the city at any time to practice their religion without 
restriction." 

He pointed out that the Old City's one square kilometer has "more holy sites 
than other city in the world." And he said that, since the war in 1967 when 
Israel took the eastern part of the city, "we have protected religious 
freedom in a glorious manner—the best in history."
   
Olmert argued that Ariel Sharon's controversial visit to the Temple Mount 
area last September, an area dominated by two of Islam's holiest sites, was 
an exercise of his religious freedom. "If Jews can't visit Temple Mount, then 
what's the meaning of religious freedom?"
   
He said that "nothing was desecrated, not one stone was moved."  While the 
visit might have been a mistake, "the answer to this mistake is shooting?"  
He added, "In the middle of war, there will be some problems…some 
provocations," but that everything must be seen in context. 
   
The mayor told his visitors that "you are our best partners," especially 
since "some societies in the region don't share our sense of democracy."
   
He admitted that "we make mistakes. We are under pressure. We are encircled 
by many whose tolerance is in doubt.  It leads us to wrong reactions."

No reason for emigration

The State of Israel is serious about freedom of religion, access to holy 
sites, security and helping and assisting all religions, according to 
officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry who are in charge of religious 
affairs.
  
When asked about the emigration of Christians, Ariel Kenneth said that the 
phenomenon actually goes back to the seventh century when Muslims captured 
the Holy Land, triggering an exodus of Christians.
   
The Christian population actually increased after the creation of the State 
of Israel because they were offered a safe environment with good education 
and a standard of living. In those areas under Palestinian control, however, 
there has been significant emigration because of the violence.
   
"There is no reason for emigration from Israel," said Avi Granot.  In fact, 
Israel has been absorbing a large number of Christians from places like 
Russia and Ethiopia.  He is convinced that "a whole heritage is being lost 
when cities like Bethlehem become Muslim."
   
When asked about complaints by Christians about access to religious sites and 
a perception that they are second-class citizens, Kenneth said, "Israel 
doesn't want to cause any harm to the Christian population" but it must apply 
some constrictions because of the war mentality.
   
"There is no freedom in the land when there is war," he said. "We hold Arafat 
responsible for turning back to violence." 
   
"You are talking about difficulty of movement during a time of war. Of course 
there are limitations—but without exception it is because of the need for 
security."  That is why, for example, only Muslims over the age of 45 are 
allowed to pray at the Dome of the Rock and al Aqsa in the Old City.
   
He said that the violence in Beit Jala, a town near Bethlehem that has been 
the scene of shelling, is not the work of Christians or local residents. 
Those who are shooting at the nearby settlement at Gilo are actually hoping 
that Israel will respond, to gain some sympathy for the Palestinian cause.  
Israel has the ability to pinpoint the source of shooting, he said, and is 
capable of responding quickly.
   
Kenneth said that there are lists of Christians and Muslims and their 
contributions to the intifada and "we may be doing the Christians a favor."
   

Logic not violence

"Our problem will not be solved by violence but by the power of logic," said 
Faisal Husseini in welcoming the delegation to Orient House in eastern 
Jerusalem. 

But the Palestine National Authority's top representative in Jerusalem said 
that "not only throwing stones and shooting are violence but also the 
destruction of homes by soldiers is violence and the use of identity cards 
that consider people as foreigners in their own city."
   
"There will be no solution, no stability, without solving the Palestinian 
problem," Husseini warned.  "And that means a Palestinian state."
   
Because small states seem less viable at this time in history, Husseini 
envisions a regional cooperation.  But that raises other obstacles in the 
search for peace, including Israeli settlements, the status of Jerusalem, 
return of Palestinian refugees, settling the property claims of both 
Palestinians and Israelis.
   
Palestinians accept two states, even though it means that "Palestinians are 
willing to settle for only 22 percent of what was our original land—because 
we want a better life for our children."
   
The Israeli settlements, he said, are illegal and are "a time bomb that could 
explode at any moment."  Unless the issue is solved, "We could find ourselves 
fighting each other like the Serbs and Bosnians."  There is no way that 
Palestinians could accept settlements in their state because "It would cut 
the Palestinian state into islands."
   
On refugees, Husseini said that there are about four million Palestinians 
living abroad and that Israel must accept the principle that those 
Palestinians have a right to return.  But that should be implemented in a way 
that would not threaten the Israelis, he said.
   
"There is still a possibility for peace," he concluded, while making it clear 
that making peace is very difficult.

* * * * *

--Jim Solheim is director of the Episcopal Church's Office of News and 
Information and is serving as press officer for the peace delegation. 
To follow the stories and photos check the Web site of the Lutheran Office 
for Governmental Affairs: www.loga.org.