wfn.org | Church Leaders Welcome U.N. Resolution on Palestinian State

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 18, 2002

CHURCH LEADERS WELCOME U.N. RESOLUTION ON PALESTINIAN STATE
02-053-JW*/JB

     WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- Leaders of several U.S. churches --
including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- welcomed
the U.N. Security Council passage of a U.S.-initiated resolution
proclaiming support for a Palestinian state, according to a March 14
news release from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
     The church leaders cautioned that the resolution could be
relegated to a fate of futility if not swiftly followed by concrete
steps that bring an end to current Israeli-Palestinian violence and a
resumption of negotiations toward full implementation of the United
Nations' "land-for-peace" formula.
     Commenting through CMEP, an ecumenical coalition, the church
leaders made clear that the United States must use the resolution as a
springboard to propose and implement clear-cut initiatives that will
stop the violence, return both parties to negotiations and end the
Israeli occupation of Palestine, the news release said.
     "This U.N. Security Council resolution breaks new ground because
it is the first time the Council has gone on record specifically
endorsing the creation of a Palestinian state," said Dennis W. Frado,
director, Lutheran Office for World Community, New York.  "More
importantly, it comes at a most critical time for all people of the
region. Now, hopefully, the United States will support Council
discussions of various peace initiatives such as that of the Saudi Crown
Prince. The U.N. Security Council remains the best forum in which to
fulfill and implement U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338 and bring an end to
the conflict."
     The church leaders, many of whom have been in close contact with
Palestinian Christian churches in recent days, supported the U.N.
resolution but warned that words must be followed by action if more
deaths are to be avoided.
     "Every day our hearts weep at the suffering in Palestine and
Israel," said the Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J., senior fellow at the
Woodstock Theological Center and long-time adviser on Mideast affairs to
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "I pray that the U.N. action
will lead both Israelis and Palestinians to a cessation of violence and
an immediate return to negotiations within the framework of
international law. Unless the occupation ends, no one can expect a cease
fire to last."
     "I hope that just as U.S. Vice President Cheney condemned
Palestinian violence, which we see as intolerable, he will by the same
token make absolutely clear that Israel has to stop its killing of
Palestinian civilians in their homes, withdraw its weaponry, and cede
the territories to others -- either to the Palestinians or to
international authorities," Christiansen continued.
     This theme was echoed by James Matlack, Washington office director
for the American Friends Service Committee. "There is a desperate need
to end the violence on all sides," Matlack said, after conferring with
church staff in the region. "The quickest and surest way to do so -- the
path that can lead to peace and security for all parties -- is for
Israel to commit itself and move promptly to end its occupation of the
West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem."
     Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington, D.C.-based program
of the ELCA, American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Conference of
Major Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ), Church of the Brethren, Church World Service and Witness,
Episcopal Church, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Maryknoll
Fathers and Brothers, Mennonite Central Committee, National Council of
Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed
Church in America, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of
Christ, and United Methodist Church.
-- -- --
     Churches for Middle East Peace maintains a site at
http://www.cmep.org on the Web.

     *Jim Wetekam is media program director with Churches for Middle
East Peace.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html