wfn.org | Jerusalem Church Leaders March to Sharon Residence

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

For 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

Olive Branches Despite Rain; Appeal Also to Bush

JERUSALEM, April 3, 2002--The heads of all the Christian churches in 
Jerusalem appealed to President George Bush yesterday to halt Israel's latest 
military incursion into the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

About 100 priests and Franciscan brothers marched from Jerusalem's walled Old 
City to the official residence of Ariel Sharon, Israel's Prime Minister, 
demanding an end to the Israeli military offensive.

Braving heavy rain, some clergymen waved olive branches, and others carried 
posters with a message in French, Italian and Hebrew reading: "We are for 
peace". The priests and monks made a prayer stop at the American consulate in 
Jerusalem.

Church officials said a report stating that a 65-year-old priest had been 
killed in an exchange of fire near a convent in downtown Bethlehem was 
incorrect, adding that the priest was well.

In their appeal to the American President, church leaders in Jerusalem asked 
him to "stop immediately the inhuman tragedy that is taking place in this 
Holy Land".

They said many Bethlehem residents were deprived of basic necessities, and 
that several religious institutions had been occupied by troops and dam-aged. 
Church leaders wrote to Mr Bush: "We call upon your Christian conscience, 
because we know you are the only one who can stop this tragedy immediately. 
We in return will play our part in mediating for the peace and security of 
all the people of this land, both Israeli and Palestinian."

A similar appeal was made to the European Union, Tony Blair and religious 
leaders around the world.

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