JERUSALEM CHURCH LEADERS OFFER TO MEDIATE IN FATAH, HAMAS CONFLICT

Ecumenical News International, Switzerland
Jan 16 2007

Jerusalem (ENI). Church leaders in Jerusalem have warned warring
Palestinian factions they could trigger civil war and, offering to
play a mediating role, they are urging an end to violence in order
for them to focus on the true priority of their people – independence.

"As leaders of the Christian churches in Jerusalem concerned at the
present situation in the Palestinian Territories we feel we must
voice our anxiety for all our people – Christian and Muslim alike –
at the deteriorating relations between Fatah and Hamas leaders and
the armed forces," they said.

In a statement made available on 15 January, 13 church leaders noted
that "all kinds of mediation and attempts at reconciliation have so far
failed, resulting in a deadlock in the situation". They said the latest
accusations and threats made known through the media had triggered
"some large-scale fighting which soon will be very difficult to stop".

They warned, "Fighting and kidnapping opponents will not bring down
the Separation Wall or end the embargo on the Palestinian people."

News agencies have in recent days reported fighting of an unprecedented
ferocity between Fatah and Hamas, the two major Palestinian factions,
noting that more than 30 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza
Strip since Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of Fatah and president of the
Palestinian Authority, said at the end of 2006 there should be fresh
elections.

The church leaders noted: "The threatening language of the last few
days by representatives of both movements and other related parties are
both unprecedented and very aggressive. Such occurrences can only bring
a civil war nearer by the hour. The outcome would be so drastic that
it will obscure the real priorities of the whole Palestinian issue."

Among the signatories of the statement are, the most senior Roman
Catholic leader in the Holy Land, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah;
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III; Patriarch Torkom II of the
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church; Anba Abraham of the Coptic Orthodox
Patriarchate; the leader of the Anglican community in the Holy Land,
Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal; and Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

They said, "The time has come for an all-out effort to unite our
people and so concentrate on working for independence together," to
offer " the opportunity for all people in this Holy Land – Christian,
Muslim and Jew – to know security and peace".

Clement John, the international director of the Geneva-based World
Council of Churches said on 15 September: "The churches are putting
the best interests of the Palestinian people first at a critical
time." He added: "Factional fighting is a failure of vision and
responsibility for a people who will soon face their 40th year under
foreign occupation. As the churches point out, the real priority is
the same for everyone – Christians, Muslims and Jews."

The Jerusalem church heads called for a removal of arms from the
street, a government of national unity and an Israeli-Palestinian
return to the negotiating table, and they pledged to play their part in
ending strife and made an offer of mediation. "Bloodshed and violence
will not bring peace; it will only further destroy family life and
further endanger the economy of our land," said the church leaders.

Full statement of church leaders: