wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Letter to Bush says Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Note #8616 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05038
January 21, 2005

Letter to Bush says Israeli-Palestinian conflict threatens U.S.

Church leaders, including Kirkpatrick, urge peace initiative

by Carol Fouke
NCC News and Information Office

NEW YORK CITY - In a full-page ad in today's national edition of The New York
Times, leaders of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical
churches and institutions urge President Bush to have the courage to seize
the opportunity and bring his leadership to ending the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.

	The 57 signers, including National Council of Churches (NCC) General
Secretary Robert Edgar and top leaders of a dozen NCC member churches, begin
with their concern for the security and freedom of Israelis and Palestinians.
The letter was signed by the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, General Assembly
stated of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

	Then they add an appeal to the security and reputation of the United
States itself.

	"The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become a threat to the people
of the United States," they write in their open letter to the newly
inaugurated President. "Every day the conflict continues, hatred of the
United States government is fueled. With each news report of Palestinian
suffering . . . popular support in Arab and Muslim countries for terrorism
grows and the threat of attacks directed at the United States increases. The
continuing conflict has also resulted in suffering and loss of life among
Israeli citizens. We want Israelis, too, to live without fear or threat in
their own country."

	They continue, "A hallmark of your campaign was the commitment to
defeat terror and make our country more secure. We believe that the promise
of peace in Jerusalem is the best defense against terrorism. We encourage you
to maintain the faith, the courage and the resolve to work with other world
leaders toward negotiations that guarantee two viable states, Israel and
Palestine, living side-by-side and sharing Jerusalem as their capital."

	They conclude: "We believe that the promise of peace in Jerusalem is
the best defense against terrorism."

	Former U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Robert
Seiple, a leader in the evangelical community, said the message of the letter
and those who signed it is clear:  "Peacemaking is difficult, the ultimate
challenge.  But it is here where we find out how good we really are.  Do we
have the courage and the commitment worthy of good people?  In the end, this
will determine how relevant we will be."

	One of the Catholic signers, Sister Christine Vladimiroff, President
of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said, "The ancient,
unfulfilled vision of justice for all is now within our reach. It is time for
us - citizens and elected officials - to disarm our hearts, speak a word of
hope and bring the blessing of peace to the people in the holy land. 'Let us,
then, make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another.'"
(Romans 14:19)

	Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold of the Episcopal Church had this
comment:  "Having recommitted himself to a two-state solution with Israel and
Palestine living side by side in peace, President Bush has a unique
opportunity to make that vision real - to, as we urged, 'follow the examples
of the great prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, who declared that God calls all
nations and all people to do justice to one another.'"

	The ad, the full text of the letter and a complete list of those
signing the letter are available on the web site of Churches for Middle East
Peace at www.cmep.org.

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