wfn.org | LWF Council 12-2005 Israel Urged to End Occupation of

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

LWF Council Urges Israel to End Occupation of Palestinian Territories
Increasing Constraints on Palestinians Compel Christians to Emigrate

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

PRESS RELEASE N0. 12-2005

JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM, 6 September 2005 (LWI) * The Council of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has reiterated its call for an end to
Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and affirmed the
implementation of the Roadmap for peace as crucial to establishing a
two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, with a shared city of
Jerusalem.

In a public statement adopted September 6 at its meeting in Jerusalem
and Bethlehem, the Council said many of its members had encountered
"the [Israeli] separation wall and found shocking its impact on the
daily lives of Palestinians." They mentioned the wall's implication
for among others, church members who could not attend services; farmers
who were cut off from their fields; school-children delayed in or
prevented from reaching their schools; and patients, who were unable to
reach hospitals and clinics. The statement was presented by the
Council's Program Committee for International Affairs and Human
Rights.

In the statement titled, "Challenged to a Ministry of Reconciliation
in the Holy Land," the representatives of LWF member churches from all
over the world said their stay in Jerusalem and Bethlehem had opened the
"eyes of many of us to the daily sufferings of the Palestinian people,
often not shown to us by the media, and in which context our member
church speaks boldly a message of hope and reconciliation." This
year's Council meeting was hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) under the theme, "The
Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation."

Referring to the opening worship sermon by ELCJHL Bishop Dr Munib A.
Younan, the Council members said "healing must begin with
truth-telling and with breaking the silence that hides the suffering of
those who are vulnerable and violated." Only such a start would allow
the possibility of healing with justice and forgiveness, they noted.
The public statement also pointed to the Palestinians' significantly
compromised freedom of movement that included separation of married
persons from their families because they lacked the same required
residence permit as their partner or children.

It cited the lack of family reunification as among a series of
pressures upon Palestinians in the Jerusalem area where houses were
being demolished by the Israeli authorities and other facts on the
ground were being created with the enlargement of settlements, forcing
Palestinians off their land. "The prevention of home and land
confiscation and the creation of additional housing is essential in
Jerusalem and other areas to help maintain their human right to housing
as well as the demographic status quo," the public statement said.

The LWF Council members said increasing constraints on Palestinians
were leading to a decreasing number of Christians in the Holy Land. They
stressed the need for financial assistance toward education and other
forms of investment in people in order to ensure the "enduring
presence" of Christians in the region. "Such assistance is an
investment in people's hope for positive change and contributes to
preparing a fertile ground for building understanding among Palestinians
and Israelis for reconciliation now and in the future." 

They called on LWF member churches to encourage pilgrimages of peace to
the churches in the region to enable people experience the living
conditions in Palestinian areas and promote renewal of faith.

The Council further endorsed Bishop Younan's call for an annual
gathering in Jerusalem for prayers for peace and reconciliation
involving Christians, Muslims, Jews, Palestinians and Israelis. It also
stressed the LWF's continued support for inter-faith dialogue,
especially in the Holy Land. (598 words)

*Around 170 participants attended this year's Council meeting,
including representatives from the LWF member churches on the 49-member
governing body. Also attending were 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. 

*	*	*

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140
member churches in 78 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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