wfn.org | Griswold leads delegation of church leaders to meet with Powell

[ENS@ecunet.org]

2001-146

Presiding bishop leads delegation of church leaders to meet with Secretary of 
State Powell

by James Solheim

     (ENS) Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold led a delegation of church leaders 
to a 40-minute meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell on June 7 to discuss 
the elusive search for peace in the Middle East.

     Griswold gave Powell a letter (see http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens/2001-
143.html) that thanked him "for your effort to end the Israeli-Palestinian cycle 
of violence and rebuild the trust and mutual confidence that are critical for a 
negotiated settlement."

     The letter argued that "this long and tragic conflict is a cancer that 
threatens the health of the whole region," and said that "there is no higher 
priority for peacemaking in the world today than that between Israel and 
Palestinians." In identifying the threats to peace, the letter said that "few 
things have done more to destroy the hope and pursuit of peace through 
negotiations than Israel's unrelenting settlement activity" and that recent 
administrations opposed the settlements "only to watch the settlements increase 
and expand as Israel ignores the advice."

     "We urge you to make clear to Israel and the Palestinians that the United 
States is committed to a negotiated end of Israel's military occupation of the 
Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem as called for in United Nations 
Security Council resolution 242 and that an immediate freezing by Israel of its 
settlement activity, including 'natural growth,' is imperative," the letter said.

     "We endorsed the major conclusions and recommendations of the Mitchell 
Report, convinced that it could be the basis for restarting the peace 
negotiations," said Griswold in an interview after the meeting. (The report 
emerged from the visit of a team to the area, led by former Maine Senator George 
Mitchell.)

     In addition to members of the delegation, the letter presented to Powell was 
signed by 26 of the nation's top Protestant, Orthodox and Roman Catholic leaders. 

     The idea for the meeting with Powell came from a high-level ecumenical 
delegation that visited the area last December (see 
http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens/2000-240.html). They returned with an urgent 
request from Mideast church leaders that their American counterparts meet with 
the new secretary of state to plead for renewed peace efforts. Since Powell is an 
Episcopalian, Griswold made the contact and Powell responded quickly to set the 
appointment.

Trench warfare diplomacy

     In both the letter and the discussion with Powell, the church leaders 
expressed their growing alarm at the escalation of violence in recent months. 
Powell made it clear that he was vexed by the situation and found it "very 
painful" to listen to both sides justify the violence, according to the Rev. 
Canon Brian Grieves, director of peace and justice ministries for the Episcopal 
Church and staff to the delegation.

     Powell is eager to move beyond the pattern of violence, Grieves said, but it 
was also clear that he expects the Palestinian Authority's chairman, Yasser 
Arafat, to use his moral authority in attempts to stop the violence by 
Palestinians. "Powell told us that he needs us to tell both sides to stop 
violence," Grieves said.

     "He urged us to use our voices, to shout from our steeples, that both sides 
must commit to non-violence," said Griswold. "And he urged us to speak forcefully 
on the issue."

     Griswold and Grieves were impressed with the deep level of urgency Powell is 
giving to the issues, noting that he is "deeply immersed in contacts with both 
sides," in touch with them on a daily basis. "It was very obvious that he is 
engaged fully," said Grieves, adding that it is also clear that the United States 
is moving toward an increased role in the search for solutions but as a part of a 
larger international effort, not one that is unilateral.

     "We are engaged in trench warfare diplomacy," Powell told the delegation. 
When someone expressed concern that the fanatics on both sides seem to be in 
control and that many are losing hope, Powell said that people of faith must not 
give up hope.

     In comments to the press after the meeting, Griswold said he was convinced 
that Powell sees the churches as allies in the peace process. "We certainly felt 
that we established a working relationship and that he would be happy to work 
with us in the future," he said.

--James Solheim is director of news and information for the Episcopal Church.
(Photos are available at www.episcopalchurch.org/ens)