wfn.org | LWI 2009-001 LWF Reiterates Support for Holy Land Vision of Peace, Urges Ceasefire in Gaza

["Dirk-Michael Grötzsch" <dmg@lutheranworld.org>]

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>Mit freundlichen Gruessen

>Dirk-Michael Groetzsch

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION  
>LWI News online:
>http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html. 

LWF Reiterates Support for Holy Land Vision of Peace, Urges
Ceasefire in Gaza
Noko Calls for Prayers, Advocacy, as North American Lutheran
Bishops Visit Middle East

GENEVA, 6 January 2009 (LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) reiterates its commitment to a vision of peace for both
Israelis and Palestinians, urging an immediate cessation of both
Israeli military operations on Gaza and Hamas missile attacks on
southern Israel, and the swift establishment of a workable
ceasefire agreement. 

In a statement released today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr
Ishmael Noko says, "The present bloodshed and destruction will
not secure peace for either Israelis or Palestinians. It will
only plant the seeds for more conflict, marginalizing the
peacemakers, breeding despair, promoting radicalization and
strengthening the appeal of violence." 

Reports citing local medical sources put the Palestinian death
toll at more than 550 and nearly 3,000 civilian injuries, since
Israel launched its 27 December operation on Gaza, including
ground assaults since 3 January, aimed at stopping Hamas
militants from firing rockets and mortars into southern Israel.
Hamas says it has killed five Israelis by rocket fire and in
combat. 

Pointing to the impact of the Israeli siege on the entire
civilian population of Gaza during the six-month ceasefire, Noko
notes the blockade "imposed severe suffering on the entire
civilian population of Gaza, fostering despair and rage rather
than promoting an atmosphere for negotiations and peace." He adds
however, that attacks by Hamas and other militant organizations
"are condemned by the LWF as an unacceptable response threatening
the lives of another civilian population." Equally, while Israel
has an obligation to protect its people and territory, its
current military operations "are disproportionate to the actual
threat and have resulted in an intolerable number of civilian
deaths and injuries." 

The general secretary expresses grave concern for the critical
humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, urging the Israeli
government to ensure full humanitarian access to the people
compelled to survive this conflict "without electricity, medical
supplies, or sufficient food or water."

Citing the LWF's long-standing support to its member church, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL)
in various activities fostering the establishment of peace with
justice in the Holy Land, Noko insists the root cause of the
Middle East conflict must be addressed. "The interpretation of
God's promise to Abraham and differing understandings of who may
rightfully claim his legacy, which lie at the very heart of this
conflict, can only be resolved by dialogue and reconciliation
among all his children," he says.

He criticizes both parties' short-sighted focus on political
gains through "displays of armed power," rather than on the
"difficult search for peace," saying this approach was a betrayal
of the Israeli and Palestinian "peoples' hopes for a peaceful
future."

Noko released his statement as a delegation of bishops from the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada, led by LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson,
proceeded with their visits with Israeli, Jordanian and
Palestinian religious, community and political leaders, under an
annual event hosted by the ELCJHL. (Separate story will follow.)

He appeals to all LWF member churches to pray for peace,
advocate for justice, and convey these concerns to political
leaders. "Without a just peace in the Holy Land, there can be no
true or sustainable peace for any of us," Noko concludes. (558
words) 

The full text of the general secretary’s statement is
available on the LWF web site at:
http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF-Statement_Gaza_Jan_2009.pdf

>*        *          *

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF
currently has 140 member churches in 79 countries all over the
world, with a total membership of over 68.3 million. The LWF acts
on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such
as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information
service. Unless specifically noted, material presented does not
represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various
units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation
(LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.] 

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Dirk-Michael Groetzsch

Visibility Team Coordinator & LWF German Editor
The Lutheran World Federation
Office for Communication Services
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P. O. Box 2100
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