wfn.org | Lutherans Send Emergency Funds to the Middle East

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 3, 2002

LUTHERANS SEND EMERGENCY FUNDS TO THE MIDDLE EAST
02-71-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to recent armed conflict in the
Middle East, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) sent $10,000 to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan
(Palestine) (ELCJ) for emergency relief.
     According to the Rev. Munib Younan, bishop of the ELCJ, the
current incursion into Palestinian cities and towns by the Israeli
Defense Force has caused immense suffering among the general
population.
     "Our Palestinian people, including members of our Lutheran
churches, have been sequestered in their homes since Thursday, March
29," Younan said.  "People are running short of milk, water, medicine
and other necessary items."
     A four-hour period in which people could leave their homes took
place April 2.  "After five days in their homes, many people hurried
to the downtown [area] to get food and medicine," Younan said.
     The temporary cease fire was not honored by Israeli soldiers,
he said.  "A 13-year old boy named Kindi was shot in the leg while he
and his father were buying fruit and chocolate.  I know this child
and his family.  They belong to the Anglican Church.  Kindi has been
hospitalized," Younan said.
     "The situation of the Israeli incursion and insurgence is
unbearable," Younan added.
     ELCA International Disaster Response funds sent to the ELCJ
will help provide food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter
and other materials and supplies. Coordinated through the ELCA
Division for Global Mission, International Disaster Response funds
are also used to rebuild communities and to repair structures
destroyed by major disasters.
     The cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem have been seriously
damaged by Israeli attacks, said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida,
director for international communication, Division for Global
Mission.  "Ramallah has been declared a war zone and civilian
movement is severely restricted," he said.
     In Bethlehem, Israeli tanks were positioned around the Old City
from Manger Square to the Christmas Lutheran Church compound, Ishida
said.  The Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church,
reported tanks and soldiers have been stationed immediately outside
the church and parsonage, Ishida said.
     "Bethlehem is experiencing the worst invasion in decades if not
centuries.  The whole infrastructure is under attack," Raheb said.
     "The beautiful stone-paved streets around Christmas Lutheran
Church are devastated.  The tanks were standing around our church and
firing at the center of the Old Town.  The entrance to our parsonage,
car garage and staircase were destroyed," Raheb said.
     "Our art and crafts workshops ... experienced great
destruction.  The offices of our architect and engineer also
experienced much vandalism.  The apartment of our volunteers as well.
My office was hit, too," he said.
     "Journalists are forbidden from entering the city to cover the
cruelty of occupation.  I wonder how long can the world watch Sharon
destroy everything we try to build.  This has nothing to do with
fighting terrorism," he said.  "We are here and will remain here.
Nothing will be able to stop us witnessing to the Lord of Life,"
Raheb said.
     The International Center in Bethlehem, which Raheb directs, was
scheduled to host a special Lutheran World Relief study and
solidarity visit to the Middle East.  Staff of the center concluded
April 2 that they could no longer host visiting trips, especially
those scheduled to begin next week.  Nine U.S. Lutherans were
scheduled to participate on a study trip next week; it has been
postponed until November.  Lutheran World Relief is the overseas
relief and development agency of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-
Missouri Synod.
     A delegation from the ELCA New England Synod has postponed its
trip to the Middle East.  Scheduled to leave April 2, the delegation
of three pastors and one lay leader made the decision when "a phone
call to Jerusalem from the airport confirmed that the reception of
the delegation at this time would be more problematic than helpful,"
said the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the New England Synod.
The synod's central office is located in Worcester, Mass.  It
maintains a "companion synod" relationship with the ELCJ.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html