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Jerusalem Church Leaders Urge End to Gaza Violence, Work for Peace ~June 15, 2007~ The violence and chaos in Gaza is cause for alarm and dismay for all those who yearn for peace in the Holy Land. The current crisis is bringing untold hardship to ordinary Gazans, threatens to spill over into the West Bank and Israel and jeopardizes progress toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The present situation underscores the urgent need for a political process that can restore hope for peace to Palestinians and Israelis. Below is a statement from the heads of churches in Jerusalem calling for an end to the fighting between Fatah and Hamas and urging all sides to work for peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Lutheran Bishop Dr. Munib Younan, in a separate statement, emphasized the need for urgent work on the peace process, “If you want to bring an end to the horrific violence in the Middle East and if you are concerned as I am by the rampant growth of religious extremism: please, I urge you from Jerusalem, get serious about implementing the two-state solution…” An urgent call from The Heads of Churches to the members of Fateh and Hamas June 14th , 2007 On the recent 40th Anniversary of the Occupation we urged all sides to work for peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. How painful and awful then that now we have to say stop all domestic fighting. The fighting has struck at the most vulnerable timing thus diverting International attention away from the National issue with its priorities and so disappointing the Palestinian people's hope of attaining independence together with freedom from Occupation with its related aspects. This domestic fighting where the brother draws his weapon in the face of his brother is detrimental to all the aspirations of achieving security and stability for the Palestinian People. In the name of the One and only God as well as in the name of each devastated Palestinian many of whom are still dying, we urge our brothers in Fateh and Hamas movements to listen to the voice of reason, truth and wisdom. So we implore that you immediately announce the cessation of all bloody fighting and to return back to the path of dialogue and attempt through understanding to solve all differences. In this urgent appeal we would draw attention to that which both parties have in common assuring them that it is greater that their differences. The national and land cause must be greater than any other consideration. In this belief we urgently ask both movements to listen and put aside all weapons so concentrating on ending the Occupation in a peaceful manner based on National fundamentals and International legitimacy in order to achieve freedom for all the people together with an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its Capital. CMEP Home CMEP Members E-mail Alerts Government Contacts CMEP Letters Statements ~ Churches for Middle East Peace -- 110 Maryland Ave., NE #311 - Washington, DC - 20002 -- 1-202-543-1222 ~ |