wfn.org | Pax Christi Condems Israel for Halting Latin Patriarch

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

Contact:  Fr. Raed Awad Abusahlia
P.O.Box 14152  Jerusalem  91141
Tel.  (972 2) 628.2323 / 627.2280
Fax  (972 2) 627.1652
Personal E-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
Latin Patriarchate E-mail: Latinpat@actcom.co.il
Latin Patriarchate's Homepage: http://www.Lpj.org
"Nonviolence Homepage": http://go.to/nonviolence

JERUSALEM, March 20, 2001--Pax Christi, the international Catholic peace 
movement, has sharply criticized the recent denial of freedom of movement of 
church officials, including Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, by the Israeli 
Army.  

    A letter addressed to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other Israeli 
officials, and signed by Etienne De Jonghe of Brussels, the International 
Secretary of Pax Christi, also condemned restrictions place on Palestinians 
within the Occupied West Bank.

    In addition to Mr. Sharon, the letter was addressed to the Israeli 
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and the Minister of Defense Binyamin 
Ben-Eliezer.
    
    The text of the letter follows:

    Your Excellencies,

    Pax Christi International wishes to express its deepest condemnation of 
the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces preventing the free movement of 
innocent civilians, and most notably His Beatitude, Msgr. Michel Sabbah, the 
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the International President of our Movement. 

    We are shocked to learn of the treatment received by the Patriarch at the 
hands of Israeli forces on Friday, 9th March 2001. On the afternoon of the 
9th, Israeli soldiers located at the checkpoint at the entrance to the 
Village of Ein Arik near Ramallah prevented the Patriarch from entering the 
village to celebrate mass at the parish church. 

    This was despite the Patriarch producing his Holy See diplomatic passport 
and his VIP Card given by the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs. 

    The security forces refused to listen to explanations provided by Father 
Giovanni Cinti, parish priest of Ein Arik, but obliged him to sit on the 
floor for sometime before releasing him. 

    It is pertinent to note that on the previous day, 8th March 2001, the 
Patriarch was unable to enter the village of Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah, to 
celebrate Mass, since the village was one of those blockaded by the Israeli 
Army.

    Pax Christi International questions this policy of collective punishment 
in the face of the injustice of which, it is hard to imagine anything 
constructive being achieved. The most recent action of the Israeli defence 
forces of blockading Palestinian villages in the Occupied Territories will 
effect 25 villages with their 65,000 inhabitants. 

    We oppose this action of the Israeli army, who not only constructed the 2 
metre deep and 150 metre wide trenches, but also in the process destroyed 
water pipes and telephone cables, leaving the isolated population without any 
water or telephone access, let alone access to medical treatment, schools and 
other basic facilities.

    If His Beatitude Michel Sabbah could be treated with such callousness in 
clear violation of diplomatic relations and agreements between the State of 
Israel and the Holy See, we despair for the ordinary innocent civilians who 
are living through the indignation of this policy on a day-to-day basis.

    This policy of collective punishment does not increase security nor 
hasten the possibility of a negotiated settlement. 

    In the face of this gross violation of the human rights of thousands of 
people, which is not legally, morally and humanly acceptable, we ask you to:

    1.  Put an end to the restrictions on movement imposed on the Palestinian 
population of the Occupied Territories;

    2.  Grant immediate access of the residents of the 25 villages affected 
by the closure to essential supplies including water, food, and medical care;

    3.  Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms in 
accordance with national laws and international human rights standards, 
including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

    Pax Christi International is an International Catholic Peace Movement 
that enjoys consultative status with the ECOSOC.  It has been closely 
monitoring the developments in the Middle East.  Along with keeping in close 
contact with our President, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah in Jerusalem, we 
network with the Arab Education Institute in Bethlehem, an organization 
affiliated to our Movement. 

    A Pax Christi delegation recently visited the region to carry out an 
assessment of the situation and to meet with Israeli and Palestinian 
officials as well as with groups working for peace and human rights.

    We hope that you will take the necessary and urgent measures to stop 
these violations of human rights.

Sincerely yours,

Etienne De Jonghe
International Secretary

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