wfn.org | Latin Catholic Commission Calls for End to Israeli Occupation

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Contact:  Justice and Peace Commission, 
Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
Box 20459, 
Jerusalem
Telephone and Fax: 972.2.628.7719
Email:  justpax@netvision.net.il 

JERUSALEM, March 26, 2002--The internationally staffed, but Jerusalem-based 
Latin Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has issued Easter greetings that 
are both grim in detail and theologically hopeful.

        The offices of the Commission are located just outside the ancient 
walls of Jerusalem's Old City, in the historic Notre Dame of Jerusalem 
Center.  Their Easter 2002 message, issued here this week, reflects on the 
experiences of Jews and Muslims as well as Christians who live in both Israel 
and Palestine.

        The Commission's report notes that "mutual violence and death seem to 
prevail everywhere. Innocent people are killed everyday."

        But the Commission concludes that "violence cannot bring a lasting 
solution.  Only by tackling the basic issue that is at the root of the whole 
problem once and for all will some hope for the future be possible."

         Like other international bodies, the Commission says that "it is 
absolutely necessary to recognize the military occupation of the Palestinian 
Territories by Israel for what it is and put an end to it."

        The Commission observes that "after so much violence and bloodshed, 
Palestinians and Israelis are not able to overcome the present deadlock 
without the active involvement of an assertive third party."  It calls on the 
United States of America and the European Union to take initiatives.

        The full text of the statement follows:
 
EASTER  GREETINGS  FROM  THE  HOLY  LAND

        At this Easter Season, in the midst of a very dark and painful 
situation, we, members of the Justice and Peace Commission in Jerusalem, send 
you our most sincere greetings and wishes. 

    In the Holy Land we are at present living a very peculiar Holy Week.  
Never since 1967 have the Palestinian experienced so much oppression, 
hardship, humiliation and hopelessness.  We have the feeling that we reached 
the depths of tragedy.  It is impossible to go on like this.

        Oppression, injustice, mutual violence and death seem to prevail 
everywhere.  Innocent people are killed everyday.  Many fear for their own 
life and that of their dear ones.  All observers agree that there is no 
military solution, nevertheless the deadly spiral of occupation, resistance, 
reprisal and renewed violence continues. 

        For many months now, the Israeli military checkpoints are virtual 
frontiers that subdivide the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, making mobility 
between one town or village and the other practically impossible and in fact 
very dangerous.  

        The continuous harassements at these checkpoints and the targeted 
killings of so-called Palestinian militants have created an unbearable and 
explosive atmosphere. 

        The economic situation of the Palestinian society has become 
disastrous and a great number of families are without any source of income. 
Sadness, disappointment, frustration and desperate acts of resistance are the 
direct consequences.

    The recent massive invasions by the Israeli Army into Palestinian towns, 
villages and refugee camps, with the indiscriminate use of heavy and 
sophisticated weaponry, have caused numerous deaths and terrorized the entire 
Palestinian population, particularly to women and children. Hundreds of young 
men were rounded up, humiliated in public and taken away from their families. 

        Huge unwarranted damage was caused to public buildings, clinics, 
schools and private houses.  For instance, the Catholic University in 
Bethlehem and the Latin Parish School in Gaza have suffered heavy impacts by 
teleguided missiles.

        We have reached a moment of truth.  If Israelis and Palestinians - 
and the international community with them - want to find a solution, they 
have to face reality and to tackle the real problems.  

        The State of Israel is internationally recognized within its pre-1967 
borders, on 78% of the Mandate territory.  Now it is time to recognize a 
fully independent Palestinian State on the remaining 22%, with 
internationally established borders, and to find a solution for the 
Palestinian refugee problem, according to the relevant UN resolutions.  True 
security for Israel will come with the full recognition of the rights of the 
Palestinian people.

        Violence cannot bring a lasting solution. It is time to start serious 
negociations with clearly defined objectives and a built-in verification 
process. Only by tackling the basic issue that is at the root of the whole 
problem once and for all will some hope for the future be possible. 

        It is absolutely necessary to recognize the military occupation of 
the Palestinian Territories by Israel for what it is and put an end to it. 
The responsibility to take the first step in that direction lies with Israel 
as the occupying and overwhelmingly most powerful party. 

        After so much violence and bloodshed, Palestinians and Israelis are 
not able to overcome the present deadlock without the active involvement of 
an assertive third party.   The United States of America and the European 
Union bear a heavy responsibility in this.

        In spite of the sadness that the current situation instils in our 
hearts, we wish the message of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ to 
reinvigorate all of us in our striving for a true and lasting peace, with 
justice and dignity for all.  May peace eventually prevail in this Holy Land. 
  We count on your thoughts, yours prayers, your solidarity, and greet you 
with our traditional Easter greeting: 

"Christ is Risen!" - "He is truly Risen!"

Justice and Peace Commission, 
Jerusalem, Holy Week 2002
Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
Jerusalem

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