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World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
26 September 1996

         WCC COMMENT ON CURRENT SITUATION IN PALESTINE

The World Council of Churches views with alarm and great dismay
the confrontations now underway in East Jerusalem, the West Bank
and Gaza, which have already claimed a terrible toll of dead and
injured.

The deep frustration of the Palestinian people in the face of new
occupations of land, confiscations of property, destruction of
homes, restrictions of movement and economic disaster is
understandable.  So is the long-standing fear of the Israelis for
their security.  However, this new violence, whose victims have
been overwhelmingly among unarmed civilian Palestinians, is
unacceptable and poses grave dangers to the region as a whole.

The State of Israel must withdraw immediately all its armed
forces from the Palestinian Autonomous Territory.  Their presence
is in violation of the Oslo Accords.  The Palestine National
Authority has responsibility under the Accords for maintaining
law and order in the region over which it governs, and must be
free to do so with a minimum of force and respect for its people.

There are those on both sides who believe that the Middle East
peace process, which raised such hopes around the world, is dead. 
We do not accept this judgement.  But for the peace process to be
revived, both sides must hold firmly to the obligations they have
undertaken, and to the time-table established for implementing
the terms of their agreement.  At the same time, governments in
and beyond the region must assume their full responsibilities
now, before the hope of peace and the promise of justice in the
Middle East is damaged beyond repair. 

Contact: Dwain Epps, Coordinator, International Affairs
                       (+41.22) 791.62.20 (Office); 776.15.13
(Home)

                                                                      

World Council of Churches
Press and Information Office
Tel:  (41.22) 791.61.52/51
Fax:  (41.22) 798 13 46
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