wfn.org | WCC Executive Committee reaffirms WCC policy on ...

["Sheila Mesa" <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

Middle East

World Council of Churches
Press Release, PR-01-34
For Immediate Use
14 September 2001

Executive Committee reaffirms WCC policy on the pursuit of a
just peace in the Middle East

The Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
has reaffirmed the WCC's policies on the "pursuit of a just peace
in the Middle East, and for the status of Jerusalem, and its
commitment to active dialogue among Christians, Muslims and
Jews". In a resolution approved on Friday, 14 September, the
Executive Committee "expressed profound condolences to all the
victims of the conflict, and especially to the families of those
who have been killed in both Palestine and Israel".   

In the context of the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence:
Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace (DOV), the resolution
calls on member churches and ecumenical partners "to focus
attention in 2002 on intensive efforts to end the illegal
occupation of Palestine, and to participate actively in
coordinated ecumenical efforts in this connection". It also asks
the WCC to consider the organization of an International
Conference on the Illegal Occupation of Palestine in 2002, and
supports plans to develop an international ecumenical
accompaniment programme emphasizing long-term presence,
solidarity, and monitoring based on current church and ecumenical
experiences in the region.  

Endorsing the recommendations of an international ecumenical
consultation on the Palestinian - Israeli conflict held in
Geneva, 6-7 August 2001, the Executive Committee called for "an
international boycott of goods produced in the illegal Israeli
settlements in the occupied territories" as well as for
"international prayer vigils to strengthen the 'chain of
solidarity' with the Palestinian people".  

The WCC Executive Committee met in Geneva, 11-14 September.  

The full text of the resolution is available on request.  

For further information, please contact Karin Achtelstetter,
Media Relations Officer, Tel.:  (+41.22) 791.61.53   Mobile: 
(+41) 79.284.52.12

**********
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches,
now 342, in more than 100 countries in all continents from
virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is
not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The
highest governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately
every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in
Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general
secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
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