wfn.org | Commentary: World must act to stop Middle East violence

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

March 8, 2002  News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-71BP{092}

NOTE: Bishop S. Clifton Ives, leader of the United Methodist Church's West
Virginia Area, visited the Middle East in February as part of a fact-finding
delegation that included three other bishops, two top church agency
executives and a staff person. He issued the following in the form of a
statement on March 8. A photograph of Ives is available at
http://umns.umc.org/photos/headshots.html.

A UMNS Commentary
By Bishop S. Clifton Ives*

Escalating violence in Israel/Palestine is a threat to world peace.  In the
past few days, 34 Palestinians and 21 Israelis have died in violent ways in
a land no bigger than the state of Maryland. It is outrageous that 1,200
citizens in that land have killed each other in the past 17 months, and the
world and its leader nations allow it to continue.

On March 5, 6 and 7, F-16s bombed and leveled buildings in Bethlehem,
terrorized people and added to the numbers of dead. Citizens of Israel and
Palestine have a right to live on their own land with security and freedom.
Violent acts of any citizens against other citizens by suicide or F-16
bombing cannot be tolerated. Violence breeds violence and perpetuates a
cycle that threatens security for all.

I have just returned from a visit to Israel/Palestine, where I saw signs of
hope among a people committed to a civil society of peace with justice and
security for all. I heard calls for the United States to help end the
violence and find a lasting peace. 

I came home convinced that the state of Israel must be secure. Its security
lies not in violent military retaliation, but in ending its illegal
occupation of Palestinian land. Palestinian security lies in bringing to an
end violent acts that threaten Israel and cause resistance to Israel's
withdrawal from Palestinian land. I have witnessed the disruption of life
caused by the current wave of violence and seen the effects of bombing and
shelling of civilian populations. The violence must end.

An imbalance of power in the region makes difficult the task of other
nations seeking to help. United Nations-led international observers must go
to Israel/Palestine and not be denied. Thirty-five hundred United Nations
relief workers are currently in the Middle East aiding Palestinian refugees.
They need to be joined by United Nations forces to restore peace and to
assure the implementation of the United Nations Resolution 242, which
demands withdrawal from areas occupied since 1967 and recognizes the right
of all states to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries. 

Until the United States encourages and allows the United Nations to
function, I fear Israel will not be secure, Palestine will experience
neither justice nor freedom, and peace will not be found.

# # #

Commentaries provided by United Methodist News Service do not necessarily
represent the opinions or official policies of UMNS or the United Methodist
Church. However, formal church statements on the Middle East are available
at http://infoserv.umc.org/faq/archives.htm online.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
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