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Press Release from the General Board of Church and Society
March 18, 2002 For more information contact: Methodist Federation for Social Action 202-546-8806 mfsa@mfsaweb.org
Eighteen months of escalating violence in the Holy Land prompted leaders of churches in Jerusalem to address Palestinians and Israelis with these words: "There is a time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knocking down, a time for building; ...a time for throwing stones away, a time for gathering them; ...a time for war, a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:3-8) Now is the time for peace. With the patriarchs and heads of churches in the Holy Land, we are dismayed by the "spiral of violence directly affecting the lives of people." With them we are "saddened to see more widows, orphans, and mourning fathers and mothers on both sides" and ask "Is this the future that we all want for our children?" (Jerusalem, March 9, 2002) Palestinian and Israeli children have a right to live securely and at peace in the land where Christ blessed the children and proclaimed peace. Each day terror tears at the hearts of Palestinian and Israeli children. One third of those who have died as a result of the recent violence are children. Terror and violence must end so that children can sleep safely in their own beds, go to school freely and without fear, and receive medical attention when needed. In the spirit of the One who said, "Inasmuch as -you have done it to one of the least of these...," we speak on behalf I of children caught between bombs and bullets in a dispute over land. The state of Israel has a recognized claim to the land it inhabited prior to June 1967, but currently illegally occupies the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), territories to create a viable, contiguous Palestinian state. The United Methodist Church has called for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions #242, #338, #194, #267, #465 and #681 as first steps in settling the issues of borders and security, Jerusalem, refugees' right of return and compensation, Israeli settlements, water resources, and release of political prisoners and detainees. Israel will find peace and security through ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories. Palestinian security and peace and economic stability will be found behind secure borders in a civil and democratic society. Within both Israel and Palestine, courageous leaders are at work to achieve these ends. They need our support and prayers. Within the Holy Land, the peace of Christ is realized in the lives of individuals who seek to shield children from terror through play and creative education, who bring conflict resolution skills to broken relationships, who teach the Bible and train tour guides to walk where Jesus walked, who teach in church-related schools, who pray in churches, and who every day live incredible lives of non-violent direct action in the middle of a war-torn land. These persons want and need our prayers. They want us to tell their story so that it does not get lost in attention-grabbing violent headlines. Therefore the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church affirms the recent action of the United States in advancing and supporting the United Nations Security Council resolution that envisions "a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders."' We also encourage continued United States and United Nations efforts towards a cease-fire and the resumption of peace negotiations. Since United States' aid has been used by Israel to prolong the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, we call for that aid to be formally monitored so that its use complies with United States law, prohibiting its use in situations where it does not comply. Furthermore, we renew the United Methodist General Conference call, "to deduct annually from any Israeli loan guarantees an amount equal to all Israeli settlement spending every year, including spending for settlements in and around Jerusalem (Book of Resolutions 2000, #293, pp. 731-732). "We request that the U.S. government reevaluate the entire structure of aid to the Middle East." We also ask for consideration of "economic support for the efforts of nongovernmental organizations, including religious institutions, human rights groups, labor unions, and professional groups" (Book of Resolutions 2000, #295, pp. 733-734). We insist "that the United States Government immediately release the remaining portion of humanitarian aid it promised to the Palestinian people in 1993, and encourage other nations to do the same" (Book of Resolutions 2000, #295, pp. 733-734). We urge the United States and all other member states of the United Nations to make clear Israel's obligation to end the occupation and to abide by United Nations Resolutions #242 and #338 and all other relevant resolutions (Book of Resolutions 2000, #305,p.761). We call for the creation of an independent Palestinian state as soon as possible. We call upon all entities that serve as mediators in this conflict to seek the recognition and implementation of international human rights and humanitarian laws, for the sake of humanity and not primarily for any one's own national interests. We endorse the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel and encourage United Methodists to participate in and support the program as a faithful response to Christ's call to be peacemakers. We encourage United Methodists to sign the Churches for Middle East Peace [CMEP] document "A Christian Call for Peace" and to become more informed about how they can help to end the suffering of people in Palestine and Israel through prayer, education, advocacy and personal and spiritual involvement. Finally we ask you, in the name of the Living God, whom we worship, and in the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace, our Savior, to raise your voices with the Spirit's cry for justice, peace, and reconciliation for all the peoples of the world. Our prayers and actions for peace are urgently needed now. General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church Spring Meeting, March 13-17, 2002 Herndon, Virginia, USA # # # Only the General Conference speakes for the entire denomination. The General Board of Church and Society is the international social witness and advocacy agency of The United Methodist Church, charged by General Conference to "conduct a program of research, education, and action on the wide range of issues that confront the church It shall speak its convictions, interpretations and concerns to the church and to the world |