wfn.org | LWF Council 07-2005 Palestinian Authority President Praises

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

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Praises Lutherans'
Support for Just Peace 
Emphasis on Return to the Roadmap for Peace

LWF Council Meeting in Jerusalem/Bethlehem, 
31 August * 6 September 2005

PRESS RELEASE N0. 07-2005

JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM, 5 September 2005 (LWI) - Palestinian Authority
(PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has commended the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) for its continued support and commitment toward the Palestinian
people in their search for a just peace in the Holy Land.

"I know how much you are doing for our people, [for] Muslims and
Christians, and Jerusalem," Abbas told LWF President Bishop Mark S.
Hanson; General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko; and Vice-President for
the Asia region, Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan, during a meeting with the
LWF leaders at the PA offices in Gaza City, September 3.

The LWF leaders met with Abbas in the context of this year's Council
meeting hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy
Land (ELCJHL) at the International Center of Bethlehem. The meeting's
theme is "The Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation."

Their discussions focused on the Middle East peace process, prospects
for Lutheran schools, services offered by the LWF-run Augusta Victoria
Hospital on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, and inter-faith
relations.

Concerning the recent Israeli withdrawal from Gaza settlements, Abbas
stressed the need to "take the momentum and work very hard to return to
the Roadmap for Peace," developed by the United States, in cooperation
with Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations (the Quartet),
for a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. "Much has changed [but] much remains to be done," he said.

The PA President said he considered the recent disengagement from Gaza
as a starting point of the Roadmap, and emphasized that further
disengagement must continue. Palestinians need to "engage" the Israelis
on peace issues. He expressed Palestinians' objection to the Israeli
security wall, saying he was not convinced it would protect Israel.
Israeli authorities argue the wall will prevent suicide bombers from
accessing Israeli population.

Hanson, who is also presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America, affirmed the LWF Council meeting in Jerusalem and Bethlehem
as an indication of the "longstanding" commitment to the Palestinian
people. "We will pray for you," Hanson told Abbas. 

Noko expressed his gratitude to the PA President for the
Palestinians' gesture of welcome to the LWF Council and solidarity
with the ELCJHL. He said the venue of the meeting was an opportunity for
representatives of LWF member churches worldwide to share the
experiences of the Palestinian people with their churches.

Holy Places Must be Respected

The Lutheran leaders had earlier on met with the Chief Rabbi of Israel,
Yona Metzger. In that meeting, Metzger expressed concern to the
Lutherans about the fate of synagogues that remain in Gaza now that
Israeli settlers had left. When Noko raised the subject with Abbas, the
Palestinian president stressed the need to respect "each other's holy
places." He noted however, it would be better if the Israelis removed
the synagogues from the former settlements and relocated them, a point
of view shared by the LWF general secretary. 

Younan said he was working together with Muslim and Jewish leaders to
establish a council for religious leadership in the Holy Land, and asked
the PA president for his support toward the council's work. "The LWF
and ELCJHL want to promote the right image about Islam" to the world,
Younan said, adding that Palestinian Christians are the voice for Islam
to the West and the whole world.

Abbas presented the Bethlehem 2000 Medal to Hanson and Younan, and read
citations praising them for working for peace, justice and
reconciliation, for promoting inter-faith relations, and for their work
on behalf of the Palestinian people.

The LWF leaders are scheduled also to have discussions with Israeli
President Moshe Katsav and other senior government officials this week.
(633 words)

*There are around 170 participants in this year's Council meeting,
including representatives from the LWF member churches on the 49-member
governing body. Also attending are officials from LWF partner
organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators,
and LWF staff. The Council is the annual governing body meeting between
Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at
the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the
President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other
members include advisors, who are ordained and lay persons representing
the different LWF regions. 

During the Council Meeting, the LWF Office for Communication Services
can be reached at mobile telephone No. +972 52 378 1673.

*	*	*

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
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 LWF's information service.
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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