wfn.org | Jews, Muslims and Christians Fast for Peace in Holy Land

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

For Further information 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 25, 2002--  Palestinians and Israelis--Christians, Jews and 
Muslim--are fasting for peace here.

The purpose of the concerted action is to take immediate steps to end 
violence and restore security cooperation, to rebuild reciprocal confidence, 
and to return immediately and unconditionally to meaningful negotiations. 

A call has been made on all those who advocate peace in the Middle East, 
Palestinians, Israelis, people all over the world to support a Fast for Peace 
beginning on March 25 until the goal is reached, to convince the Israeli and 
Palestinian governments to stop all forms of violence from both sides, to 
return back to the negotiation table and implement the Mitchell Plan.
 
The initiative begins with the spring holidays of Easter and Passover, and at 
a time when there is pressure from the United States and the European Union 
to resolve the conflict. 

It will take place at the Bethlehem check-point between Bethlehem and 
Jerusalem and seeks to be a demonstration of unity being organised by a group 
of Jews, Muslims and Christians. 

The Fast for Peace has been planned by Prof. Sami Adwan of Bethlehem 
University; Father Raed Abusahlia, chancellor of the Latin Patriarch 
Jerusalem; and US born Linda Livni, a writer from Jerusalem. 

Other organizers are Prof. Dan Bar-On, Ben Gurion University; Dr. Philip 
Veerman, Defense for Children Israel; Samil Taha, Palestinian businessman and 
Prof. Avraham Sela of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

In a message welcoming world wide adhesion, the organizers say "we believe 
that until this conflict is resolved none of us are free. The Fast for Peace 
is our method of demonstrating our desire to change direction, to return to 
the promise of peace and bring a speedy end to our suffering". 

They conclude by saying "Let our message be clear: we are starving for 
peace". 

"We are happy to see the recent proliferation of peace activities as these 
are the voices of peace which we hope will continue to grow until the melody 
echoes throughout the world."

Meanwhile the Israeli peace movement Peace Now, after carrying out an 
investigation, says that since the election of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 
February 2001, in the West Bank 34 new areas for Jewish settlements have been 
identified.   (Fides 22/3/2002) 

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