wfn.org | Church Leaders Address Middle East 'Road Map' Proposal

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 16, 2003

CHURCH LEADERS ADDRESS MIDDLE EAST 'ROAD MAP' PROPOSAL
03-100-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Calling for "bold leadership," United States
church and church organization leaders sent letters May 14 to the prime
ministers of the Israeli and Palestinian governments to offer
encouragement for the current Middle East peace plan. The letters were
delivered two days prior to the first scheduled meeting between Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and recently appointed Prime Minister
Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was one of 17 church leaders who
signed the letters.
     The letters were coordinated through Churches for Middle East
Peace, a coalition of 18 Catholic and Protestant organizations.  Other
signers included the leaders of the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ,
all ELCA full communion partners; and leaders of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), United Methodist Church, National Council of
Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., many historic peace churches, and the
heads of U.S. Catholic organizations.
     The letters addressed the peace plan known as "Road Map to a
Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." The
plan was developed under auspices of the United States, European Union,
Russia and United Nations.
     "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," the
church leaders wrote.  "You will be asked to leave behind many past
ambitions and animosities and to convince your own people that difficult
concessions can indeed lead to true peace.  Fortunately, you begin this
journey in the knowledge that other nations will accompany you and that
countless people of goodwill will join you in these tasks."
     The occupation of Palestinian territories must end, the church
leaders said, adding the occupation has "severely stunted the
development and character of both societies."
     In addition, "violence by terrorists, extremists and military
forces must end," they said.
     Sharon and Abbas must transform public opinion among the people
they serve, the leaders said.  To Sharon, the U.S. church leaders said
Israeli settlements and their related infrastructure "cannot be allowed
to carve up a future Palestinian state and demoralize the Palestinian
population."  To Abbas, they said "the Palestinian leadership and people
must unequivocally end violence and terrorism, the language of hatred
that feeds violence and the glorification of those who use violence."
     The U.S. church leaders said the rejection of violence by both
sides is essential.
     "Both peoples will watch for concrete actions of the other's
government," the letters said.	"Israelis rightly expect the Palestinian
leadership to prohibit calls for violence against Israelis and to
demonstrate that it had decisively clamped down on militants and
terrorism.  Likewise, Palestinians will rightly expect that Israel will
not use violence such as assassinations and killing and injuring of
civilians, the demolition of houses and groves, harassment at
checkpoints, confiscation of lands or actions that threaten the very
existence of Palestinians in Jerusalem."
     The church leaders closed their letters with an appeal to
Christians, Jews and Muslims to pray for peace in the region.
     In addition, the U.S. church leaders forwarded copies of the
letters to President George W. Bush and members of the U.S. Congress.
They appealed to Bush to use the "full authority" of the presidency in
supporting the Road Map, and they urged members of the Congress to
support Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell as they begin
their work with the Road Map.
     "For the sake of peace and justice in the Holy Land, our prayers
are with you," the church leaders said in their letters to Bush and
members of Congress.
-- -- --
     Complete texts of the letters can be found at
http://www.cmep.org/letters/2003May14_roadmap.htm on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html