wfn.org | Palestinian bishop appeals for LWF support, encouragement

[franki@elca.org]

'Mobilize your government' toward peace in Israel/Palestine, Noko urges
churches

JERUSALEM/GENEVA, 13 October 2000 (LWI) - The Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Jordan (ELCJ) has called for the "support and encouragement"
of all member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) as renewed
violence further threatens the prospect for peace between Israel and
Palestine.

"We need to hear your voice of support and encouragement in this
terrible time of hardships," Younan wrote in an October 11 letter,
addressed to Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, LWF general secretary. The Lutheran
bishop stated that by October 11, were about 79 people had been killed
and more than 3,000 injured, 52 percent of them children. Younan
expressed concern over recent developments and particularly that the
situation has gone "out of control."

In his appeal, Younan cited the need for international protection in
accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention and asked the churches to
intervene through their governments. He also called for immediate
actions that would put an end to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and
for financial aid that "enables us to comply with our mission, witness
and existence in this part of the world." The ELCJ has congregations in
Jerusalem, Jordan and Palestine.

The Lutheran bishop also expressed fear that the recent burning of
mosques and synagogues might be interpreted as a religious rather than a
political problem. Territorial disagreement must not have a religious
dimension, he said. "We should not become victims of a religious war
whoever is trying to introduce that," Younan said.

He pointed out that there are people "of goodwill and living conscience"
among Palestinians and Israelis who call for justice but "their voices
are unfortunately not heard." "The voice of accumulated hatred and
aggression is only heard." Therefore, he said, Christian, Muslim and
Jewish leaders locally and internationally should raise their voices,
"use reason and continue to dialogue in order to find a suitable
solution."

Responding to the ELCJ, Dr. Noko today called on LWF member churches
worldwide to mobilize their governments and society toward the pursuit
of peace in Israel and Palestine.

Dr. Noko also urged the LWF member churches to hold fast to the vision
of Jerusalem as a city of two nations and three faiths. He appealed for
the solidarity of member churches with the ELCJ through peace and
prayers.

The LWF general secretary recently wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, expressing
great concern over the recent fighting. In an October 2 letter, Noko
described the violence that has erupted as tragic at this point in the
peace process "when small steps towards the resolution of the most
delicate issues surrounding the status of Jerusalem" were being
discussed. He implored the leaders to "ensure restraint__on the part of
the Palestinian community, in refraining from violent acts which invite
a violent response__and on the part of the Israeli security forces, in
responding to the protests of the Palestinian people in a proportionate
way." 

The texts of ELCJ Bishop Younan's letter to the LWF, and that of LWF
General Secretary Noko to the LWF member churches, follow: 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan
Bishop Munib A. Younan
P.O. Box 14076
Muristan Road
Jerusalem 91140 
Tel: 972 2 627 6111
Fax: 972 2 6285764
E-mail: ga_elcj@netvision.net.il
		
Jerusalem on October 11th, 2000

The Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko
General Secretary
The Lutheran World Federation
P.O. Box 2100
1211 Geneva 2 / Switzerland

Dear Ishmael,

Salaam and grace to you from a troubled Jerusalem/Palestine in the name
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I would like to thank you for your call in which you expressed your deep
concern about the current deteriorated situation in our country. We are
also very much concerned about the recent developments, especially that
things became out of control. My concern, however, became deeper due to
the following facts:

1. Until today, October 11th, 2000. About 79 persons were killed and
more than 3000 injured, 52% of them are children.

2. The recent burning of mosques and synagogues became on the agenda. I
fear that the problem is transformed to be religious rather and
political. I want to assure you that territorial disagreement must not
have religious dimension. We should not become victims of a religious
war whoever is trying to introduce that. Yet, it became obvious and
everybody could watch it on television that Jewish masses burned mosques
in Tiberias and Jaffa while the Israeli police was looking at them
without interfering. 
There were shouting "death to the Arabs", "we do not want Arabs in
Tiberias". These are dangerous ways. On the other hand, it is correct
that angered Palestinian protesters attacked and set on fire the
Joseph's tomb in Nablus. However President Arafat ordered the mayor of
Nablus to restore the place to be then guarded by Palestinian police and
continue to be a synagogue. He also ordered to take measures against
those policemen who did not try to hinder that incident.

3. Jewish settlers are becoming very active. This occurred in several
places in Palestinian areas. They blocked the streets, attacked villages
and damaged property. Their perpetrated attacks and atrocities against
Palestinians are being supported by soldiers. One of my elderly church
member told me that this method was practiced in 1948 with the aim to
force Palestinians to leave their homes and emigrate: a real "transfer".
Certainly, fear fills our hearts. Where is the international community?

4. The Israeli Arabs of 1948 who in any case suffer of inequality, are
becoming a target by the Israeli government and radical groups. Twelve
people were shot dead during the last week by the Israeli police. Their
properties were damaged during various attacks without any intervention
by the police. They tried to set in fire the apartment of the Arab
Kenesset member Azmi Bishara in Upper Nazareth. People are also attacked
on the streets. Unfortunately, there had been no condemnation of those
atrocities by Israeli officials, nor had been any steps taken to protect
them. Israeli Arabs are now demanding an international protection.
5. Churches and Palestinian Christians are also becoming victims of this
existing situation. For instance, we in the ELCJ, could not recently
hold our congregational elections, nor could we hold our Synod meeting
due to the situation of clashes, closures and arbitrary measures taken
by the Israeli government. Movement of Palestinians had been restricted.
Schools were closed for more than a week. People are loosing income as a
result of this situation and of the clamped closure of the Palestinian
territories. We therefore expect that income of the schools through the
tuition fees will be drastically reduced. This will surely effect our
already struck budget, and may cause closure of some of our
institutions, and will encourage further Christian emigrations.
6. We know that on both sides, there are people of good will and living
conscience who call for just peace. Their voices are unfortunately not
heard. The voice of accumulated hatred and aggression is only heard. The
vicious cycle is rolling. For this reason, we believe that Christian,
Moslem, and Jewish leaders, locally and internationally should raise up
their voices. Use reason and continue to dialogue in order to find a
sustainable solution.

In accordance with all this, I do appeal to you to all member churches
of the LWF to take quick measures to assist us. Now we are in need of
tangible measures that are to be translated on the ground:

WE NEED INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 4th GENEVA
CONVENTION AND INTERVENTION THROUGH YOUR GOVERNMENTS.

WE NEED A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION BASED ON U.N. RESOLUTIONS PERTAINING TO
THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT.

WE NEED IMMEDIATE ACTIONS THAT PUT AN END TO ATROCITIES AND
CONFRONTATION.

WE NEED FINANCIAL AID THAT ENABLES US TO COMPLY WITH OUR MISSION,
WITNESS AND EXISTENCE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD	.

WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT FOR A LASTING AND COMPREHENSIVE JUST
PEACE.

WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE OF SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGMENT IN THIS TERRIBLE
TIME OF HARDSHIPS.

Thank you for your prayers.

Your brother in Christ,
Bishop Munib A. Younan
The Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem

<<<>>>

To LWF member churches

13 October 2000

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

You have all, no doubt, been receiving the news reports of the current
tragic events in Israel/Palestine and even amidst the holy places of
Jerusalem itself. The renewed violence and the resulting deaths,
injuries and destruction have shocked us all into recognition of both
the fragility of the peace process, and of its critical importance. They
have also reminded us of the fundamental elements of justice and
reconciliation which must form the foundation of any sustainable peace
in the unquiet land of Christ's birth.

I know that all of you are praying for an end to the violence, and for
all those who have lost loved ones, who have been injured, whose
security has been shattered, and whose hope and goodwill dimmed as a
result of these events. As member churches of the Lutheran World
Federation, our thoughts and prayers turn particularly to our brothers
and sisters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan - 'living
stones' in the midst of a storm of hurled stones and deadly bullets.

I am enclosing with this letter a message from our brother, Bishop Munib
Younan of the ELCJ, describing the extent of the crisis and the critical
needs of the peoples of the region. His is a call for solidarity and
support, for prayer and partnership, for amplifying the voices of the
voiceless, and for inter-faith cooperation against the
'instrumentalization' of religious diversity for political or other
ends. And, written just before the latest tragic escalation of the
violence in Ramallah, we may be in no doubt that the urgency of this
call has increased enormously.

I commend Bishop Younan's letter to all of you, for your prayerful
consideration and response. I urge you to pray for our brothers and
sisters in the region, for all victims of the violence, and for all
those working for peace. I urge you to write to or otherwise communicate
with Bishop Younan and the ELCJ, to assure them of your prayers and
support in this time of fear and hardship. I encourage you to mobilize
your government and your society for the pursuit of peace in
Israel/Palestine.

Finally, I ask you to hold fast to the vision of a just peace in
Israel/Palestine, and to the vision of Jerusalem as a city of two
nations and three faiths, and to continue to pray for a time in which
Israeli and Palestinian children will no longer inherit the burden of
injustice, hate, violence, insecurity and separation which is today
being carried by everyone in the region.

If human intransigence, ambition, pride, intolerance, discrimination and
injustice have led to the apparent blighting of hopes for peace in
Israel/Palestine, God's justice will yet prevail and his Spirit lead the
hardest of hearts to reconciliation, and the deepest of sorrows to
comfort.

I thank you in advance for your ceaseless prayers and efforts for peace.
Yours sincerely,

Ishmael Noko
General Secretary

Cc: LWF President, National Committees, Council members, Cabinet 

(The LWF is a global communion of 131 member churches in 72 countries
representing over 59 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, held normally every six
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council
which meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF secretariat
is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material
presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its
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