wfn.org | Anglican Peace and Justice Network on the Israeli/Palestinian

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ACNS 3887     |     MIDDLE EAST      |	   24 SEPTEMBER 2004

Anglican Peace and Justice Network Statement on the Israeli/Palestinian
Conflict

September 22, 2004

Give Sight to the Blind and Freedom to the Captives

We, as members of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network, representing
23 Provinces of the worldwide 75,000,000 member Anglican Communion, have
visited the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem over these last 8 days, and
during that time have been inspired by the faith of the people in the
diocese, while also being exposed to the draconian conditions of the
continuing Occupation under which so many Palestinians live. We have
heard from Israeli Jewish voices, and from Palestinians, both those who
reside in Israel and those who live under Occupation. We note the
continuing policies of illegal home demolitions, detentions,
checkpoints, identity card systems and the presence of the Israeli
military that make any kind of normal life impossible. We have seen and
heard the effects of the overwhelming presence of settlements or
colonies in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Gaza, and
the bypass roads and highways that connect them while disconnecting
Palestinian villages, one from another. We have seen the destruction of
precious arable lands and restrictions on precious water resources.
Finally, and shockingly, we have been exposed to the separation wall
that violates international boundaries, causing mayhem in Palestinian
daily life and further defines Israeli intentions to appropriate land
from the Palestinians.

We conclude from our experience that there is little will on behalf of
the Israeli government to recognize the rights of the Palestinians to a
sovereign state to be created in the West Bank - which includes East
Jerusalem - and Gaza. Israel, with the complicity of the United States,
seems determined to flaunt international laws, whether they are the
Geneva Conventions, United Nations resolutions or the most recent
decision of the International Court of Justice in declaring the
separation wall illegal. In fact, we note that this latter decision is
based on building the wall on Palestinian territory, which once again
demonstrates the illegality of the Occupation itself.

We deeply respect and honor those Israelis who are prepared to end this
miserable Occupation and recognize a Palestinian State, people
courageously committed to justice and who work against home demolitions,
who promote human rights and oppose settlements, bypass roads and the
separation wall. And we pay tribute to the courage, endurance and hope
of the Palestinian people who suffer the dreadful injustice of the
Occupation.

We deplore the unwillingness of the Israeli government to implement
United Nations resolutions 242 and 338. At the same time, we want to
assure the Israeli Jewish community of our concern for their security
and safety, to be able live without fear. We deplore the unbroken cycle
of violence, which has claimed too many innocent lives on both sides. We
condemn violence whatever the source. We reach out to Palestinians and
Israelis of good will, assuring both of them of our love and support in
ending this long and troubled conflict. We embrace all those who have
lost loved ones in the violence and extend our deepest sympathies.

We offer not only our solidarity for a just peace, but also our
observation that it is the Occupation in its many facets that foments
the violence and fuels the conflict. Collective punishment of the
Palestinian people must be brought to an end.
We therefore urge the following steps in order to achieve a sovereign
and independent Palestine living alongside a secure Israel recognized by
and at peace with her neighbors:

* The withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from all occupied areas in
accordance with 1967 borders and a complete halt to settlement building,
both new or expanded, to be followed by a process of phasing out
settlements altogether

* The immediate dismantling of the separation wall in compliance with
the ruling of the International Court of Justice wherever the wall
violates West Bank land

* The introduction of an international peacekeeping force under the
auspices of the United Nations into the Occupied Territories charged
with maintaining security so that both sides may be free from further
attacks

* A humanitarian effort led by the United Nations to provide relief to
the suffering Palestinian people

* The immediate resumption of negotiations involving Israel and the
Palestinian Authority under the umbrella of the United Nations, European
Union, Russia, the United States and the Arab League (while we support a
total withdrawal from Gaza, we urge it to be part of an overall
resolution of the conflict).

* That negotiations be based on United Nations resolutions 242 and 338
that results in a viable and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem
as its capital as well as the capital of Israel, and assures the right
of return for Palestinian refugees

The unconditional recognition of the state of Palestine must be
implemented if peace is to prevail in the Middle East.

As an aside, we are deeply troubled by the use of United States-made
weapons and aircraft provided to Israel and being used for attacks on
civilian targets, which occur with increasing frequency. We urge a
moratorium on the use of such weapons, which violate US law.

And we address a word to the wider conflict in the Middle East. The war
in Iraq further fuels anger and hatred during these already volatile
times. We urge the withdrawal of US forces to be replaced with an
international presence led by the United Nations. Further, we believe
that a much more constructive course would be for President Bush and
Prime Minister Blair to intervene and resuscitate the peace process as a
direct action of healing and reconciliation for the global community.

Finally, we call upon the faith communities, and especially the Anglican
Communion, to a time of focused and intentional prayer and advocacy for
peace in the Holy Land. We call on the leadership of the Abrahamic
Faiths from around the world to exercise their authority and influence
on the political leadership among the several nations who carry the
responsibility for making a just peace.

Anglican Peace & Justice Network

14-23 September, 2004, Jerusalem

Australia
The Revd Canon Chris Jones

Brazil
The Rt Revd Luiz Osorio Prado

Burundi
The Rt Revd Pie Ntukamazina

Canada
Ms Cynthia Patterson

Central America
Ms Lisbeth Barahona

Congo
The Revd Beni Bezaleri Bataaga

England
Dr Charles Reed

Japan
The Rt Revd Nathaniel Makoto Uematso
The Revd Sam Koshiishi

Kenya
The Rt Revd Gideon Ireri

Korea
The Revd Dr Jeremiah Guen Seok Yang

Myanmar
The Rt Revd Saw Wilme

New Zealand
Dr Jenny Te Paa

North India
Mr Prem Masih

Philippines
Dr Andrew A Tauli

Rwanda
Mr Geoffrey Kayigi

Scotland
The Revd Alison Simpson

South India
Dr Mrs Pauline Sathiamurthy

Southern Africa
Ms Delene M Mark

Sri Lanka
The Rt Revd Kumara Illangasighe

Tanzania
Mr Kuwayawaya S Kuwayawaya

Uganda
Ms Jessica Nalwoga

United States
The Revd Canon Brian J Grieves

Anglican Observer at the UN
Archdeacon Taimalelagi F Tuatagaloa-Matalavea

APJN Advisor
The Revd Dr Naim Ateek

Liaison to the ACC for the Anglican Women's Network
Ms Jolly Babirukamu

The Witness Magazine
Mr Ethan Flad

Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
The Rt Revd Riah Abu El Assal
The Revd Canon Suheil Dawani
Ms Nancy Dinsmore
Mrs Eliane Abdelnoor
Ms Susan Khayo

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