wfn.org | Third Christian Leader Complains of Treatment by Israelis

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

Contact:  George Awad, 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jerusalem
Telephone: (972-2) 627-6111
Email: ga_elcj@netvision.il
Website: www.HolyLand-Lutherans.org

JERUSALEM, January 23, 2001---For the third time this month, a Christian 
church leader has complained about humiliating treatment by Israeli officials.

Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of 
Jerusalem, has written to Prime Minister Ehud Barak to protest the "bad 
treatment" he received at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.

In the letter to the Prime Minister, Bishop Younan told of being "checked in 
a humiliating way" despite VIP credentials that had been issued by the State 
of Israel.  

Earlier this month, the Latin (Roman) Catholic Patriarchal Vicar of Nazareth 
received official apologies after he complained that the car he was 
travelling in was halted and fired upon by Israeli soldiers.  Bishop Boulos 
Marcuzzo also wrote a letter of complaint to the Prime Minister.  (See 
releases dated January 10, 2001.)

In an open letter to (then) U.S. President Bill Clinton, a prominent Lutheran 
pastor from Bethlehem described how he was shuffled back and forth and 
eventually refused permission to travel to the United States for a speaking 
engagement.  The Rev. Mitri Raheb is also director of the International 
Center of Bethlehem.   (See release dated January 5, 2001.)

The full text of Bishop Younan's letter to Prime Minister Barak follows:

"Jerusalem on January 22nd 2001 

"Honorable Ehud Barak 
Prime Minister 
Prime Minister’s Office 
Jerusalem 

Dear Mr. Barak, 

Salaam and greetings from our Lutheran Church.

On January 11th, 2001 when I was at Ben Gurion Airport on my way 
to the Norway, I was treated in a humiliating way by security personal of the 
Airport.  [This happened even] though I showed them my VIP-card, issued by 
the State of Israel, and the letter of recommendation issued by Dr. Nissim 
Dana from the Ministry of Religious Affairs – Department for the Christian 
Communities (copies attached)!  Nevertheless I was ordered to be checked in a 
humiliating way. 

This is not the first time I was maltreated at Ben Gurion Airport. Letters of 
 protest were previously sent to Ministry of Religious Affairs – Department 
for Christian Communities and to the acting Minister of Religious Affairs 
himself (copies attached) but to no avail. 

I do strongly protest against this treatment. I do hope that such 
malpractices would stop forever, and that church leaders would be finally 
treated with some respect and dignity, a self-evident treatment for any human 
being. 

With all my prayers for a just, comprehensive and durable peace for all of 
us, Israelis and Palestinians, I remain. 

Yours sincerely, 

Bishop Munib Younan 
The Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem 

Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church – Jerusalem 

Cc: The Rt. Bishop Christian Krause, President –Lutheran World Relief, Geneva 

The Very Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, General Secretary – Lutheran World 
Federation, Geneva 

The Heads of Christian Communities in Jerusalem 

Mr. Yossi Beilin, Acting Minister of Religious Affairs 

Dr. Nissim Dana, Director, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Department of 
Christian Communities. 

-End-