wfn.org | Episcopalians: Church leaders urge 'boldness' in search for Middle East peace

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May 14, 2003

2003-106

Episcopalians: Church leaders urge 'boldness' in search for 
Middle East peace

by James Solheim

(ENS) Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold joined other church 
leaders in an urgent appeal to Israeli and Palestinian prime 
ministers to take the bold steps necessary for peace in the 
Middle East. They also sent a letter to the president and 
members of Congress seeking their support for peace efforts.

The May 14 letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and 
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority 
offered prayers and encouragement in the wake of release of the 
"Road Map to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the 
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." The church leaders said, "We pray 
that this initiative will reawaken the hopes and will fulfill 
the longings of your peoples that this longstanding conflict be 
resolved and the vision of two nations living in peace realized. 
Your bold leadership is required, now more than ever, for this 
to happen."

The letter called for an end of the Israeli occupation of 
Palestinian territories, arguing that it "has severely stunted 
the development and character of both societies." It also called 
for end to "violence by terrorists, extremists and military 
forces." 

The Road Map calls for incremental steps by both sides leading 
to creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. The letter argues 
that the "immediate engagement" of representatives of the 
Quartet that devised the plan--the U.S., European Union, United 
Nations and Russia--as international monitors to "provide 
visible evidence to both Israeli and Palestinian peoples that 
the rest of the world is prepared to help with the necessary 
steps to end the spiral of violence and allow for the creation 
of two peaceful and secure states."

The letter acknowledged "predictable obstacles along this road," 
including the use of violence to derail the process, political 
repercussions in both camps, and the issue of monitoring 
implementation of the plan. "Success of the road map will equire 
sustained U.S. involvement and a commitment by this 
administration and Congress to a just solution for the both 
parties in the conflict," said the Rev. Brian Grieves, director 
of the church's Office of Governmental Relations.

In the letter to the president and members of Congress, the 
church leaders expressed hopes for the strong leadership that 
will be necessary to "bring an end to the occupation and build 
peace and security. Only then will the Palestinian people and 
Israel be freed of the constraints of a conflict that has 
polarized Jews, Christians, and Muslims and played into the 
hands of religious extremists in each of these faiths." The 
letter urged the president not to be "dissuaded by the views of 
those who cannot see that the wellbeing and security of the 
modern state of Israel and the future state of Palestine are 
inherently connected."

The letter also warned, "It would be a mistake of historic 
dimensions if the Congress of the United States were to thwart 
progress toward peace by placing conditions on the 
implementation of the Road Map."

The letters and their delivery were coordinated through Churches 
for Middle East Peace, a coalition of 18 Roman Catholic and 
Protestant churches and organizations working for a just peace 
for Israelis and Palestinians. Jere Skipper, policy analyst in 
the Washington Office, represents the Episcopal Church on the 
CMEP board.

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(Text of the letters is available on the CMEP web site at 
www.cmep.org/letters.)

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.