wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Israeli settlement decision "deplorable", says WCC

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World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 19/11/2009 15:36:13

ISRAELI SETTLEMENT DECISION "DEPLORABLE", SAYS WCC

Churches and other ecumenical partners of the World Council of Churches  (WCC) have received an appeal to "mobilize their members and the public"  in resistance to Israel's approval for the construction of 900 new housing  units in the Gilo settlement on traditionally Palestinian land in East  Jerusalem. The WCC general secretary, the Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, called on  organizations related to the Council "to act with resolve, in concert,"  with the intention "to reverse this decision of the Israeli government and  the settlement programme it represents." In a public statement, Kobia  expressed "great disappointment" at this development and emphasized that  the WCC "strongly condemns the decision of the government of Israel to  expand the illegal Gilo settlement as we believe that this decision will  hinder attempts now in process to restart the peace negotiations."

Quoting a position adopted by the WCC Central Committee at its meeting in  September 2009, Kobia warned that, "if settlements continue to expand and  proliferate, they will further complicate negotiations and may destroy any  chance for peace". He continued: "People of conscience and good faith  around the world are looking to the government of Israel now to move  toward the resolution of an interminable conflict rather than continue  with decades-old policies that have driven it toward the point of no  return."

Full text of the WCC general secretary's statement:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=7366

WCC solidarity with churches in the Middle East:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3113

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363media@wcc -coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness  and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of  churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant,  Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million  Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman  Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from  the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.