CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Soldiers with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from the premises of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Beit Jala, West Bank, Aug. 29, one day after entering the church property and taking up positions on the roof of the church building, according to the Lutheran bishop in Jerusalem.
Later Aug. 29, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres struck "a deal in principle" with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to stop the Palestinian firing from Beit Jala on an Israeli settlement in exchange for an Israeli troop withdrawal from the Palestinian town, Peres' office said.
The developments followed a day of denunciations from Lutherans that Israeli troops had occupied the Lutheran church property, including an orphanage there, and the town of Beit Jala, in Israeli-occupied territory under Palestinian control just south of Jerusalem in the West Bank. Protests came from the Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Palestine (ELCJ), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and representatives of other church bodies around the world.
The LWF is a global communion of 131 Lutheran churches, representing more than 59 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. The ELCJ and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are LWF members.
Israeli troops fired from the church property at people in the town, Younan reported in an Aug. 28 news release.
"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all those in the international church network around the world, the members of the diplomatic corps, as well as officials from the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs, who supported our case and exerted their influence to withdraw the Israeli soldiers and tanks from our church premises in Beit Jala," Younan said in the Aug. 29 news release. "This shows that any holy place, be it a church, a mosque or a synagogue, is a place of peace and not of war or military action."
Israel's move into Beit Jala followed heightened protests by Palestinians upset by Israel's assassination of a top leader of the Palestinian Authority. Some Palestinians were said to have fired into an Israeli neighborhood, leading to Israel's action.
Israeli military forces entered the premises of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation building, an orphanage there and an interreligious center and guest house. Of immediate concern to church officials was the welfare of about 50 children from age four through 18, and some staff who were inside the Lutheran orphanage. A curfew was imposed, and the pastor of the congregation was fired at, leaving the children isolated, Younan reported.
Younan and several Lutheran clergy and coworkers eventually got inside after negotiating with Israeli authorities for several hours, and brought food and other necessities to the children and staff.
"When we arrived at the church, we faced an Israeli tank pointing at us in the street outside the church," Younan said. "Another tank was standing on the grounds of our church complex." At least five soldiers were still inside the church property, he said.
The children and staff were glad to see the Lutheran group, including the pastor of the congregation, the Rev. Jadallah Shihadeh, Younan said.
Despite the Israeli troops' withdrawal, Younan said he is still concerned about the future of the orphanage and "ordinary activities" in Beit Jala.
"We are also deeply concerned about the possibilities for the children to continue their schooling as long as the town of Beit Jala is divided into two by the incursion of the Israeli army," Younan said.
He urged supporters to continue to pressure the Israelis to withdraw from Beit Jala and other Palestinian areas, and to end the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
"Only when this happens can the future of the children in Palestine and in Israel be secured," Younan concluded. -- -- --
More information on the current situation in Beit Jala and an ecumenical prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East is at http://www.loga.org on the Web site of the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs. Additional resources about the Middle East are available at http://www.elca.org/co/mideast.html on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
