wfn.org | Israeli Soldiers Search Lutheran Church of Hope, Ramallah

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 9, 2002

ISRAELI SOLDIERS SEARCH LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOPE, RAMALLAH
02-78-MR/MJ**

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A group of nine soldiers with Israeli Defense
Forces came to the home of the Rev. Ramez Ansara April 7, requesting
him to accompany them as they searched Lutheran Church of Hope,
Ramallah.  Ansara is pastor of Lutheran Church of Hope, one of six
congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and
Palestine) (ELCJ).
     According to an April 8 news release issued by the ELCJ, Ansara
went with the soldiers and unlocked the doors of the church for them.
Ansara requested that the soldiers not bring their weapons into the
church sanctuary; two soldiers left their weapons before they
entered.  The soldiers searched the altar, organ and pews.  They
searched several levels of the bell tower, including the bells
themselves before moving to the church hall and kindergarten
classrooms.
     "Using Pastor Ansara as a human shield, the soldiers first
pushed him into each room, them jumped into the room with weapons
leveled," the release stated.  "The search lasted about two and one-
half hours.  No gunmen, weapons or ammunition were found, as Pastor
Ansara had told them at the beginning," it said.  At one point, the
soldiers asked Ansara if he had a weapon to defend himself.  He said,
"I don't need a weapon.  God defends me."
     The soldiers left the pastor to walk to his home alone, stated
the release.  "This was dangerous, since Israeli snipers are posted
to shoot at people who are not in their houses.  Pastor Ansara
arrived safely at his home at about 3:15 p.m.," local time.
     The city of Ramallah on the West Bank is in the 11th day of re-
occupation by Israeli Defense Forces.  "People are living under a 24-
hour curfew and do not leave their homes," according to the release.
     "We in the Lutheran church denounce the acts of invading and
searching churches and church sanctuaries and demand that the
international community and the State of Israel secure the protection
and the sanctity of church sanctuaries, compounds and properties,"
stated the ELCJ release.
---
     ** The Rev. Mary E. Jensen is communication assistant for the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and Palestine).

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