wfn.org | LWF Calls for Israeli Forces Withdrawal, Cessation of Attacks

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

**Kindly ignore earlier LWI 2002-028, and use this one

LWF Calls for Israeli Forces Withdrawal, Cessation of Attacks on
Civilians and Places of Worship
Noko Applauds Arafat's Reception of Saudi Peace Plan

GENEVA, 3 April 2002 (LWI) - As the Israeli military continued its
operations in West Bank towns, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
has called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from
Palestinian territory, and a stop to attacks on civilians and
civilian property including places of worship.

The LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko urges Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to heed the voices of concern from the
international community "and to step back from the path of war."

In a letter to Sharon today, Noko urges the Israeli leader to
consider the Saudi Arabian proposal, endorsed at this week's
meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference, envisaging
peaceful co-existence between Israel and Palestine.

Noko points to the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on
essential facilities such as the LWF-run Augusta Victoria Hospital
on the Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem. Not only are the
institution's staff facing increasing difficulties in entering
Jerusalem despite holding Israeli-issued permits; the hospital,
like others, is running out of supplies including blood stocks at
a time when such services "are most needed."

Also, reports from the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in
Bethlehem said the pastor's home and the church's international
center had been hit by shelling from the Israeli forces. Noko sees
the assault as a clear violation of international law and moral
responsibility.

Noko, in the letter to Sharon, describes as "morally abhorrent and
beyond any possible justification" the suicide bombings which
continue to take the lives of innocent Israeli citizens and to
inspire terror in the hearts of the whole Israeli population.

In a separate letter to Palestinian Authority President Yasser
Arafat today, Noko applauds the Palestinian leader for his
affirmative reception of the Saudi peace plan including his
willingness to implement an unconditional cease fire.

In encouraging Arafat to hold fast to the objective of peace, Noko
notes that the Palestinian leader's public declaration of
continued dedication to peace and rejection of suicide bombings as
a means of resistance "would have added power in the midst of the
war now being waged against you and your people."

He reminds Arafat that in the midst of the current crisis, his
"leadership is more important to your people than ever," and prays
for his personal safety, for Palestinian families that now find
tanks and soldiers in their streets, as well as for Israeli
citizens who increasingly face a daily risk of suicide attacks.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 133 member churches in 73 countries representing over 60.5
million of the 64.3 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human
rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and
development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted,
material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the
LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced
with acknowledgment.]

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