For he is our
peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken
down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
(Eph. 2:14)
The WCC Executive Committee, meeting in
Geneva from 17-20 February, 2004 guided
by the teachings and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility and by his death
and resurrection has promised one new humanity on the foundation of
faithful witnesses for people of every race; having received an
updated report on Israel’s construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPT) and in and around East Jerusalem, since
April 2002, which is in departure of the Armistice Line of 1949 (
Green Line) and is in contradiction to relevant provisions of
international law is;
Gravely concerned
about the fundamental violations of human rights of the Palestinian
people, the confiscation and destruction of their land and resources,
the disruption of the lives of thousands of protected civilians and
the de facto annexation of large areas of territory and in particular
its devastating humanitarian consequences on the life and dignity of
innocent Palestinians,
Recalling the
WCC Central Committee minute of September 2003 and relevant WCC policy
statements on Israel-Palestine,
Noting the
alarming statements and reports from the Heads of Churches of
Jerusalem, WCC member churches and councils of churches, the Holy See,
Ecumenical Accompaniers, the Secretary General of the United Nations,
relevant United Nations agencies and independent human rights
organisations,
Respecting the
established principle of international law on the inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territory by force contained in the Kellog-Briand
Pact of 1928 and Article 2, paragraph 4 of the Charter of the UN; the
applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as Protocol I
Additional to the Geneva Conventions to the OPT, including East
Jerusalem and the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of
War on Land of 1907,
Recalling also
all relevant United Nations Security Council and General Assembly
resolutions,
Strongly condemning
all forms of violence and attacks perpetrated by the State of Israel
and its Defence Forces inside the OPT and by Palestinian armed groups
against innocent civilians inside the State of Israel,
Recognizing
Israel’s right and duty to protect its people against attacks and
suicide bombers inside the State of Israel, without contravening
international law and jeopardising longer term prospects for peace,
Acknowledging
the Palestinian peoples right for resistance against the Israeli
occupation inside the Occupied Palestinian Territories, without
resorting to terror and creating indiscriminate fear among civilians,
Reiterating our
belief that all people have the right and duty to struggle against
injustice and oppression,
Reaffirming its
strong conviction that non-violent means of resistance and peaceful
negotiations are the only way to achieve a lasting, viable solution to
the Arab- Israeli conflict,
Noting that the
route of the wall and the scope of its construction give no indication
that it is either a temporary measure or dictated solely by security
needs,
Concerned that
this act could prejudge future negotiations and make a two-state
solution physically impossible and become a major obstacle to a just
and sustainable peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples;
The WCC Executive Committee,
Acknowledges
that Israel has serious and legitimate security concerns and that the
construction of a wall on its own territory would not have been in
contravention of international law,
Considers,
nevertheless,
the construction
and location of this wall in grave breach of international
humanitarian law as enunciated inter alia
by the Fourth Geneva Convention and the State of Israel in violation
of the Charter of the United Nations and fundamental principles of
international law: the prohibition on the forcible acquisition of
territory and the right to self-determination as well as application
of universal human rights principles and standards,
Strongly condemns
the violations of human rights and humanitarian consequences as a
result of this act, in particular the restrictions on access by
Palestinians to the closed area between the wall and the Green Line
and the limited passage through the wall, violating right to liberty
of movement; The resulting obstacles to access to workplaces,
farmland, health services and schools, demolition of houses and
uprooting of trees for the construction of the wall violating the
right to work, the right to adequate standard of living including
housing, the right to health care and the right to education; the
different requirements for Palestinians and Israelis to obtain permits
to be granted access to and remain in the closed area violating the
right to equality before the law,
Rejects
the creation of a new
political boundary that defines enclaves in which the Palestinians
will be confined, extending Israeli civilian and military presence
inside Palestinian territory, undermining all peacemaking efforts and
most importantly the whole concept of a viable and contiguous
Palestinian State established side by side the State of Israel,
Demands
that Israel stop and reverse the construction
of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including in and
around East Jerusalem, which is in departure of the Armistice Line of
1949 and is in contradiction to relevant provisions of international
law;
Calls on
the Israeli Government and its defence forces and as well as all
Palestinian armed groups to give up their strategy of mutual killings
and terror, in order to achieve lasting peace,
States
that only through an end of the Israeli occupation and a just,
comprehensive and lasting peace settlement based on Security Council
resolutions 242(1967) and 338 (1973) can security of both Palestinians
and Israelis be assured,
Supports
a two-state solution – Israelis and Palestinians living side by side
in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, as called
for by the UN Security Council in resolutions 1397 (2002) and
1515(2003).
Welcomes
the hearing of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to provide its
advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the construction of this
wall and wishes to draw the attention of the Court as well as all
States of the immense human costs paid by the Palestinian people and
its long-term consequences on peace and reconciliation,
Expresses
its deep concern to the ICJ to consider if the
construction of the wall affects the Status Quo of the Holy Places in
any way,
Calls on
all WCC member Churches, Ecumenical Councils of Churches, Christian
World Communions and specialized ministries of churches to condemn the
wall as an act of unlawful annexation in the language of Security
Council resolutions 478 (1980) and 497 (1981) which declare that
Israel’s actions at the annexation of East Jerusalem and the Golan
Heights are “null and void” and should not be recognized by any
States.
Requests
the ecumenical fellowship to intensify their advocacy efforts against
the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories since 1967, in
particular the creation of the wall, and support peacemaking
initiatives, such as the Geneva Initiative, always in coordination and
cooperation with one another and the WCC.
Encourages
Christians world wide to continue their prayers for justice, peace and
reconciliation in the Holy Land for the breakdown of the dividing wall
of the hostility between people.
