Whereas, the
General Assembly of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in
the USA, meeting at a time of continuing violent confrontation in the
Middle East with the breakdown of the Israeli - Palestinian peace
process, witnesses with deep distress the building of the Separation
Wall by Israel;
Whereas, we note
that the Wall is resulting in the de facto imprisonment of the
Palestinian population, the denial of access by Palestinians to
emergency services, health care, food, employment, schools and water
resources, the curtailment of freedom of movement among the Palestinian
people, and the exacerbation of suffering;
Whereas, the Wall
violates international law and eliminates hope for a peaceful resolution
of the Middle East conflict;
Whereas, we, as
people of faith, are deeply troubled by the systematic violence against
Palestinians, and equally troubled by bombing campaigns against
Israelis;
Whereas, the
National Council of the Churches of Christ USA has historically called
for the breaking down of walls of division, based on our faith that “Now
in Christ Jesus, he has broken down the dividing wall that is the
hostility between us” (Eph. 2:14);
Therefore, be it resolved
that the General Assembly of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the USA, meeting in Jackson, Mississippi, November 4-6, 2003,
calls for the tearing down of the Separation Wall that is now being
erected;
And be it resolved
that the General Assembly offers its prayers for the well being of all
people in the region, including our Christian sisters and brothers whose
presence in the Holy Land continues to decline in the midst of this
violence;
And be it resolved
that the General Assembly reiterates its long-standing support for the
establishment of a Palestinian State alongside the State of Israel, and
its call for the preservation of the City of Jerusalem as an open,
shared city where free access to holy places and freedom of worship are
assured for people of all faiths;
And be it resolved
that the General Assembly calls upon its member churches to send
delegations of solidarity to the Middle East as an expression of their
compassion for the people of the region;
And be it resolved
that the General Assembly encourages its member churches and their
delegates and others attending this General Assembly to join with other
United States organizations who have designated November 9, 2003, as a
day to express opposition to the Separation Wall, and to convey to
United States public policy-makers their concern for peace with justice
and reconciliation in the Middle East.
