wfn.org | Church Leaders Urge Initiatives for Israeli-Palestinian Peace

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Churches for Middle East Peace
Washington, D. C.
  www.cmep.org

Contact:  Jim Wetekam, 202-543-4150, jim@cmep.org

Church Leaders Urge Initiatives for Israeli-Palestinian Peace

(WASHINGTON, April 11, 2003)  As the world's political leaders continued to
promise the release of a "Road Map" for Middle East peace, U.S. church
leaders
in Washington urged the Bush Administration to move swiftly and resolutely
toward reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.  At the same time,
they offered elements considered essential if the road map is to compel both
Israelis and Palestinians to take effective steps for establishing two
peaceful and secure states side-by-side.

Commenting through Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of 17 Catholic
and Protestant organizations and denominations, the church leaders declared
that the Israeli-Palestinian crisis remains the most critical matter to
resolve in the Middle East.

"We are encouraged," said Corinne Whitlatch, director of the coalition, "by
positive statements made by President Bush, Secretary Powell, and National
Security Advisor Rice regarding the need to reinvigorate the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process.  While we await the specifics of the
Quartet's road map, Churches for Middle East Peace urges the U.S. to continue
this cooperation with the United Nations, European Union, and Russia and to
press forward with a vigorous plan.  We believe, too, that the plan must
contain provisions that both sides implement simultaneously.  It's not a
question of which party, Israel or the Palestinians, must act first.  Rather,
both sides must take comparable steps to build confidence of the other
government and people so that an Israeli-Palestinian peace can be obtained."

Rev. Mark Brown, associate director of the Lutheran Office for Governmental
Affairs, enumerated one of the key elements that must be present in any road
map.  "Americans must understand how despair currently pervades both Israeli
and Palestinian societies.  The first objective of any road map must be to
begin the process of restoring hope to the people.  We have to display to
them
that the rest of the world is committed to helping build this peace, too.
Both peoples now fear violence, whether an Israeli dreading the random
possibility of a terrorist bomb attack or a Palestinian fearful that he or
she
might become the innocent victim of an Israeli assassination or retaliatory
attack."

Brown contended that a team of multinational observers would be essential if
the road map were to succeed.  "Our churches currently have people who have
traveled to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza and who act as 'accompaniers' of
both Palestinians and Israelis.  Their presence is our attempt to limit the
violence.  But these church accompaniers and others are there as ordinary
concerned citizens interested in peacemaking.  Obviously, they have no
enforcement authority and can't prevent violence.  In fact, in the last month
one American has been killed and another injured while trying to prevent
violence."

"What is really needed," continued Brown, "is for multinational observer
teams
to be on the ground.  This would provide evidence that the international
community is serious about restraining violence by both sides and would allow
for the renewal of confidence and hope among the people.  Such restraint and
confidence-building is a key ingredient that allows the governments and
people
to make necessary concessions that can bring peace to the region."

Whitlatch noted that the idea of multinational observers was beginning to
gain
momentum among policymakers.  She cited a recent letter to the President from
Senator John Warner (R-VA), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The letter urges the President to include a NATO peacekeeping force in the
Occupied Territories as part of the road map.  Whitlatch concluded, "Though
we
think it is too early to characterize the exact nature of such an observer
team, it is increasingly understood that this is the time to reinvigorate the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process and that international observers will be
integral to its implementation."

Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington-based program
of the American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Conference of Major
Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church
of the Brethren, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, Franciscan Mission Service, Friends Committee on National
Legislation, Maryknoll Missioners, Mennonite Central Committee, National
Council of Churches, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America,
Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, and the United
Methodist Church.  For further information, see www.cmep.org.