wfn.org | Lutheran Bishop Insists on Non-violent Struggle for Justice

[FRANKI@elca.org]

Israel/ Palestine: All Voices Must be Heard

JERUSALEM/GENEVA, 17 April 2001 (LWI) - Against a background of continuing
and intensifying violence between Israelis and Palestinians, the Palestinian
church advocates a witness for love, just peace, non-violent struggle for
the truth and equitable co-existence of the two sides, said Lutheran Bishop
Munib A. Younan.

The church "seriously carries the cross whatever the price might be, because
it is the follower of its crucified Lord and master," noted Younan who heads
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ), a member church of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) since 1974.

In a message this Easter, Bishop Younan reiterated a call he has often
sounded--the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions
242, 338, and 194--to safeguard the welfare of all people in the Holy Land.
"There is no longer time for anyone to remain only a spectator. All voices
must be raised, and all appropriate action taken to have these resolutions
implemented," he said.

The situation continues to deteriorate day by day as the Israeli authorities
tighten their siege on Palestinian territories. The Lutheran bishop cited
military harassment of Palestinian laborers as the latter "search for their
daily bread" as an example of the reality behind UN statistics that put the
present unemployment rate in Palestinian areas at 38 percent of the working
population.

More than 350 Palestinians have been killed and 9,500 injured, resulting in
an estimated 1,500 permanent injuries and disabilities since the present
wave of violence began at the end of September 2000.

Younan said the massive damage to buildings, hotels, banks and many homes is
creating more hatred, fear, revenge, traumatization and death. "We hear a
language of war that vacillates between self-restraint and no restraint at
all. But for us Palestinians, in Bethlehem, Gaza, Ramallah, or Beit Sahour,
the use of the language does not change the realities of what we are
experiencing," Younan noted.

The LWF has taken issue with the Israeli authorities concerning the repeated
harassment of the Lutheran bishop by security personnel when passing through
Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. On various occasions Younan has been
subjected to discourteous treatment in spite of assurances from the relevant
authorities that "church leaders are entitled to expect smooth passage
through the airport."

In a letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, LWF General
Secretary Ishmael Noko called for the cessation of such actions, and urged
that Younan be allowed to travel for the fulfillment of his local and
international responsibilities as a church leader.

In his Easter message, the Lutheran bishop recalled an incident from his
recent visit to Hebron during which he was accompanied by, among others, Mr.
Peter Prove, Assistant to the General Secretary for International Affairs
and Human Rights at the LWF. The group watched an Israeli woman settler hurl
stones at Palestinian shopkeepers while the army leniently asked her to
refrain. At the same time, other soldiers nearby were firing live ammunition
on Palestinian youth.

Younan also spoke of the many Israelis of "good will" who acknowledge that
the future does not lie in hatred and the suppression of Palestinians but in
defending equal human, civil, religious and political rights for all. He
expressed sadness that such voices are not heard. Instead one hears "the
destructive voices of extremists of both sides. Their language of violence
and death is what people hear, and hatred is on the increase," said Younan.

The Lutheran church leader expressed gratitude for all the signs of support
received from partners and friends around the world. He singled out
participation of various churches worldwide in an ecumenical prayer vigil
for just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

The ELCJ has congregations in Jerusalem, Jordan and Palestine.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 131 member
churches in 72 countries representing over 60.2 million of the nearly 64
million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches
in areas of common interest such as ecumenical 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 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 various units.
Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material
may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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