wfn.org | CRC Director Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

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> CRC Director Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

Jan. 7, 2009 -- Rev. Gerard Dykstra, executive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, has written a letter to state and national leaders expressing "deep concern over escalating violence between Israel and Hamas."

The letter, sent to Michigan lawmakers and to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President George Bush, says he is troubled by the
"disproportionate Israeli retaliation on Gaza" since the war started a more than a week ago.

"I write also because the Christian Reformed Church, through decisions taken in recent Synodical assemblies, desires to become more active in promoting peaceful and just resolutions to conflict rather than accepting war and violence as the primary means to resolve disputes and protect ourselves," says Dykstra in the letter dated Dec. 29.

CRC officials are working to make sure each of the lawmakers and the president received the letter, which includes a plea for a cease fire.

In his letter, Dykstra writes that "the casualty reports coming out of Gaza ? deeply trouble me." Dykstra also says that he would like to see "a much stronger U.S. diplomatic response to halt the violence."

> In his letter, Dykstra calls for the US to:

nPressure Israel to halt the attacks on Gaza with weapons supplied by the  US.

n Insist on an Israeli/Hamas facilitation of a significant U.S. and international humanitarian response to bring relief to the 1.5 million Palestinians struggling to survive in Gaza.

nReestablish a viable cease fire that allows Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis nearby the chance to reestablish productive and dignified lives.

According to news reports, Israel continued to tighten its grip on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, as world leaders pushed for an end to the fighting that entered its 10th day.  Palestinian medical sources say the number of people killed in Gaza now stands at more than 500, with some 2,500 wounded. At least nine Israelis have been killed and several injured since the start of Israel's military operation.

After cutting the Gaza Strip in half over the weekend, the Israeli military announced that "it had seized high-rise buildings and attacked tunnels at the edge of Gaza City. Further advances by the Israeli military would bring it into the heart of the Gaza's major city," says the Los Angeles Times.

"I support Israel's right to exist and its right to defend itself, and deplore the indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli towns mounted by Hamas or any other violent Palestinian factions.  I do not, however, believe any nation has the right to respond with the disproportionate levels of violence we are presently seeing from Israel. This is in no sense a 'just war' response," writes Dykstra.

"I am aware that the reasons we have come to this point are deeply rooted and entangled, but there can be no excuse for the scale of human death and suffering that we presently see, and that threatens to worsen." To read the entire letter, visit: http://www.crcna.org/pages/justice.cfm

> To take action:

n      Call  the White House comments line (202-456-1111).

n      Send an email to the President and your Senators and Representative through Churches for Middle East Peace's e-mail system.

n      Sign the ecumenical Christian letter to President-elect Obama urging him to make Israeli-Palestinian peace an immediate priority.

> Chris Meehan, CRC Communications

> CRC Director Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza

Jan. 5, 2009 -- Rev. Gerard Dykstra, executive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, has written a letter "out of deep concern over escalating violence between Israel and Hamas" to Michigan lawmakers, to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and to President George Bush, informing them that he is troubled by the
"disproportionate Israeli retaliation on Gaza" since the war started more than a week ago.

"I write also because the Christian Reformed Church, through decisions taken in recent Synodical assemblies, desires to become more active in promoting peaceful and just resolutions to conflict rather than accepting war and violence as the primary means to resolve disputes and protect ourselves," says Dykstra in the letter dated Dec. 29.

Among those to whom the letter was sent is U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, of Michigan, chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Armed Services. CRC officials are working to make sure each of the lawmakers and the president received the letter, which includes a plea for a cease fire.

In his letter, Dykstra writes that "the casualty reports coming out of Gaza ? deeply trouble me." Dykstra also says that he would like to see "a much stronger U.S. diplomatic response to halt the violence."

> In his letter, Dykstra calls for the US to:

nPressure Israel to halt the attacks on Gaza with weapons supplied by the  US.

n Insist on an Israeli/Hamas facilitation of a significant U.S. and international humanitarian response to bring relief to the 1.5 million Palestinians struggling to survive in Gaza.

nReestablish a viable cease fire that allows Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis nearby the chance to reestablish productive and dignified lives.

According to news reports, Israel continued to tighten its grip on the Gaza Strip on Monday, as world leaders pushed for an end to the fighting that entered its 10th day.  Palestinian medical sources say the number of people killed in Gaza now stands at more than 500, with some 2,500 wounded. Five Israelis have been killed and several injured since the start of Israel's military operation.

After cutting the Gaza Strip in half over the weekend, the Israeli military announced that "it had seized high-rise buildings and attacked tunnels at the edge of Gaza City. Further advances by the Israeli military would bring it into the heart of the Gaza's major city," says the Los Angeles Times.

"I support Israel's right to exist and its right to defend itself, and deplore the indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli towns mounted by Hamas or any other violent Palestinian factions.  I do not, however, believe any nation has the right to respond with the disproportionate levels of violence we are presently seeing from Israel. This is in no sense a 'just war' response," writes Dykstra.

"I am aware that the reasons we have come to this point are deeply rooted and entangled, but there can be no excuse for the scale of human death and suffering that we presently see, and that threatens to worsen." To view the entire letter sent by Rev. Dykstra, visit: http://www.crcna.org/pages/justice.cfm

> To take action:

n      Call  the White House comments line (202-456-1111).

n      Send an email to the President and your Senators and Representative through Churches for Middle East Peace's e-mail system.

n      Sign the ecumenical Christian letter to President-elect Obama urging him to make Israeli-Palestinian peace an immediate priority.

> Chris Meehan, CRC Communications

> -- Chris Meehan
> News & Media Director
> Christian Reformed Church in North America
> 1-616-224-0849