CHURCHES FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE
110 Maryland Avenue, NE, #108
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 546-8425
FAX: (202) 543-7532
Contact: Corinne Whitlatch
E-mail: corinne_whitlatch.parti@ecunet.org
September 26, 1996
Churches for Middle East Peace is deeply concerned about the outbreak of violence between the Israeli military and Palestinian civilians and police. Our hearts and prayers are with those who have suffered injury or death and their families. The significant progress toward peace among Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and other Arab states must not be destroyed by this escalating cycle of violence.
The catalyst of this violence was the Israel Government's action on September 24, opening a long-disputed tunnel below the edge of the sacred site Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. The decision to open an entrance to the tunnel beneath the steps of the al-Umariyya School, an Islamic Waqf property, and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion in the Arab Quarter of Jerusalem is further evidence of Israel's policy to alter the status quo in Jerusalem before final status negotiations have even started. During the last three months in East Jerusalem, Palestinian houses have been demolished, apartments in Arab neighborhoods have been taken over by Jewish extremists and a service center for the handicapped in the Old City was bulldozed in the middle of the night. Christian private schools in East Jerusalem reported on September 19 that 150 of their staff are being prevented from entry into Jerusalem due to the ongoing closure o f Jerusalem to West Bank Palestinians.
We appeal to the U.S. government to exercise its responsibility as primary sponsor o f the peace process. The international community as well as the Palestinians need assurances that genuine negotiations on Jerusalem will take place. We appeal to the Government of Israel to avoid creating new facts-on-the-ground that preempt final status negotiations on Jerusalem. We appeal to the Palestinian Authority, the Arab States and Israel to avoid violent or provocative acts and rhetoric and to return to the negotiating table.
It is our conviction that a resolution of the question of Jerusalem has the potential for advancing cooperation between the three Abrahamic faiths or sowing the seeds of new regional conflicts between Muslims, Jews and Christians. Only a negotiated settlement that respects the human and political rights of Palestinians and Israelis as well as the three religious communities can lead to a lasting peace.
CHURCHES FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE is a joint program of the Washington offices of the American Baptist Churches, USA - American Friends Service Committee - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - Church of the Brethren - Episcopal Church - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Friends Committee on National Legislation - Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers - Mennonite Central Committee - National Council of Churches - Presbyterian Church (USA) - Roman Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men - Unitarian Universalist Association - United Church of Christ - United Methodist Church
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