wfn.org | U.S. Relief Agency Supports International Intervention in Holy Land

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

For information:
John McCullough, executive secretary
Church World Service and Witness
475 Riverside Drive, New York 10027

JERUSALEM, April 12, 2002---Church World Service, a church-related relief
agency from the United States--has told President Bush that "the
international community must intervene to help the opposing partners break
out of this deadly cycle of destruction" in the Holy Land.

In a letter dated April 5, the agency's executive director, the Rev. John
Rev. L. McCullough, commended the Bush administration for supporting UN
Resolutions 1397, 1402 and 1403.

He also supported President Bush's decision to send Secretary of State Colin
Powell to the region "to seek broad international support for a negotiated
settlement that fulfills the vision of two states living side by side in
peace."

McCullough also called on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the leader
of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat to negotiate in good faith to
achieve "a fair and equitable peace respectful of the rights of both nations
to exist may be achieved."

He told President Bush that from its experience in the region, Church World
Service "knows" that Israelis and Palestinians can live and work together in
harmony. He cited as "inspiring examples" programs such as bTents for Human
Rightsb and the training of interns for peace.

Church World Service is related to the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the U.S.A. and works closely with the Middle East Council of
Churches.

The text of Mr. McCullough's letter to President Bush follows:

April 5, 2002

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

We write to you today regarding the worsening situation in the Middle East.
Church World Service deplores the current spiral of violence in Israel and in
the Occupied Territories, which brutalizes perpetrators and victims alike.
The escalating tensions growing out of this long standing conflict has
increased instability in the entire region. We call for the immediate and
unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the areas previously turned
over to the Palestinian Authority, and for the cessation of any and all
terrorist activity.

The international community must intervene to help the opposing partners
break out of this deadly cycle of destruction. Therefore, we commend the US
government for supporting UN Resolutions 1397, 1402 and 1403. Further, we
support your decision to send Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region
in an effort to seek broad international support for a negotiated settlement
that fulfills the vision of two states living side by side in peace. We call
on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the leader of the Palestinian
Authority Yasser Arafat to negotiate in good faith so that the pain of
Israeli and Palestinian parents mourning the death of innocent children may
be ended, and that a fair and equitable peace respectful of the rights of
both nations to exist may be achieved.

Only a confluence of actors, and actions by world leaders and the body of the
UN, will enable the creation of space between the parties deadlocked in
violence. Negotiations for a just peace and a meaningful ceasefire can only
take place in such a space.

 From its long-standing and ongoing work with grassroots communities in the
work together in harmony. The inspiring example of a program such as bTents
for Human Rightsb and the training of interns for peace gives us hope that
region, Church World Service knows that Israeli and Palestinians can live and
healing and reconciliation is possible.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director

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