40 YEARS AFTER WAR, JERUSALEM’S CHRISTIAN LEADERS URGE WORK FOR PEACE
By Judith Sudilovsky

Catholic Online, CA
May 30 2007

Catholic News Service ()

JERUSALEM (CNS) – On the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Israeli-Arab
war, Christian leaders in Jerusalem called on all people to "work
diligently for peace" as God’s children.

Advertisement "It is totally unacceptable for the situation to continue
where the Palestinians endure daily hardships and humiliations with
deprivations of international human rights, allegedly to ensure the
safety and security of the Israelis, whereas we believe the security
of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice of the Palestinians,"
the church leaders said in a letter May 27.

They noted that their position on Jerusalem, stated in November,
includes recognizing the rights of the three monotheistic faiths –
Christianity, Islam and Judaism – and the needs of the Israelis and
Palestinians in the city.

"Now we sincerely believe it is time to intensify action, particularly
through negotiation, to end occupation, establish an independent
Palestinian state … with borders clearly defined, thus giving both
peoples, Israelis and Palestinians alike, human dignity, security
and equal opportunities," they said.

"Many injustices have to be reversed, not least the restoration of
land to lawful indigenous owners and the so-called (Israeli) security
wall demolished," they added.

Catholic signers of the letter included Latin Patriarch Michel
Sabbah; Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who is in charge
of Christian sites in the Holy Land; Maronite Archbishop Paul Nabil
Sayah of Haifa; Melkite Bishop George Baker and Armenian Catholic
Father Rafael Minassian.

In the 1967 war, also known as the Six-Day War, Israel captured East
Jerusalem, inhabited by Palestinians, as well as the West Bank, Gaza
Strip and other areas. The security wall the leaders referred to is
a series of barbed wire fences, security roads and looming cement
slabs which, if completed as planned, would stretch nearly 400 miles
and restrict the movements of 38 percent of residents of the West Bank.

The Christian leaders also urged Christians to join in the second
International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, which
will take place June 3-9, simultaneously in the Holy Land and in
various Christian communities around the world.

Churches and other groups in 13 countries participated in the
International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel pilot
project in March 2006. In Jerusalem and the West Bank, some 40 people
from eight countries attended the World Council of Churches-supported
ecumenical advocacy initiative, and event coordinators expect an
increase this year.

The initiative involves groups that support the Ecumenical
Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel and have organized
unconnected events such as symposiums, conferences and solidarity
visits during that period.

Last year the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi International also
participated in the initiative. Several groups reported participation
by Jews and Muslims as well.

Events this year will take place in Jerusalem; Ramallah and Hebron,
West Bank; and the Gaza Strip. They will include an ecumenical prayer
service in Bethlehem, West Bank, June 6 and a peace concert in Tel
Aviv, Israel, June 9.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress