Church Leaders Welcome U.N. Resolution on Palestinian State

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- Leaders of several U.S. churches -- including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- welcomed the U.N. Security Council passage of a U.S.-initiated resolution proclaiming support for a Palestinian state, according to a March 14 news release from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
The church leaders cautioned that the resolution could be relegated to a fate of futility if not swiftly followed by concrete steps that bring an end to current Israeli-Palestinian violence and a resumption of negotiations toward full implementation of the United Nations' "land-for-peace" formula.
Commenting through CMEP, an ecumenical coalition, the church leaders made clear that the United States must use the resolution as a springboard to propose and implement clear-cut initiatives that will stop the violence, return both parties to negotiations and end the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the news release said.
"This U.N. Security Council resolution breaks new ground because it is the first time the Council has gone on record specifically endorsing the creation of a Palestinian state," said Dennis W. Frado, director, Lutheran Office for World Community, New York. "More importantly, it comes at a most critical time for all people of the region. Now, hopefully, the United States will support Council discussions of various peace initiatives such as that of the Saudi Crown Prince. The U.N. Security Council remains the best forum in which to fulfill and implement U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338 and bring an end to the conflict."
The church leaders, many of whom have been in close contact with Palestinian Christian churches in recent days, supported the U.N. resolution but warned that words must be followed by action if more deaths are to be avoided.
"Every day our hearts weep at the suffering in Palestine and Israel," said the Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J., senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center and long-time adviser on Mideast affairs to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "I pray that the U.N. action will lead both Israelis and Palestinians to a cessation of violence and an immediate return to negotiations within the framework of international law. Unless the occupation ends, no one can expect a cease fire to last."
"I hope that just as U.S. Vice President Cheney condemned Palestinian violence, which we see as intolerable, he will by the same token make absolutely clear that Israel has to stop its killing of Palestinian civilians in their homes, withdraw its weaponry, and cede the territories to others -- either to the Palestinians or to international authorities," Christiansen continued.
This theme was echoed by James Matlack, Washington office director for the American Friends Service Committee. "There is a desperate need to end the violence on all sides," Matlack said, after conferring with church staff in the region. "The quickest and surest way to do so -- the path that can lead to peace and security for all parties -- is for Israel to commit itself and move promptly to end its occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem."
Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington, D.C.-based program of the ELCA, American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Church World Service and Witness, Episcopal Church, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Mennonite Central Committee, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church. -- -- --
Churches for Middle East Peace maintains a site at http://www.cmep.org on the Web.

*Jim Wetekam is media program director with Churches for Middle East Peace.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html