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NCC GENERAL SECRETARY ISSUES STATEMENT
ON ESCALATING ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
~ December 6, 2001~
December 6, 2001, NEW YORK CITY
-- Calling on President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin
Powell to insist that both Israel and the Palestinians exercise
military restraint and pursue resumption of negotiations, General
Secretary Robert W. Edgar of the National Council of Churches has
issued an urgent appeal for the vigorous pursuit of peace in
the Middle East.
Dr. Edgar's statement follows:
On Saturday evening and Sunday, as bombs exploded in Jerusalem and
Haifa, Advent began. Christians here in the U.S., with a new awareness
that their Muslim neighbors were engaged in fasting and spiritual
discipline to mark the holy month of Ramadan, prepared to receive the
Prince of Peace into our hearts. But in Palestine and Israel there is
no peace.
We condemn the suicide bombings and express our horror and rage at
such senseless and inexcusable acts of violence. We mourn with the
Israeli families and individuals who have lost loved ones, and pray
for the healing of all who were injured. And we mourn as well for the
Palestinians killed, and pray for the injured ones today in Gaza.
The circle of violence must end. We repeat the call made last May by
the Council of United Methodist Bishops to Israeli and Palestinian
leaders to bring end to all hostilities. Amidst our own revulsion at
terrorist acts of this kind, and against the urge to respond in
violence, we lift our voices in a call for restraint by both sides,
and for an even more vigorous pursuit of peace.
We call on Prime Minister Sharon and President Arafat, and on other
Israeli and Palestinian leaders and people, to turn away from acts of
retaliation and further bloodshed. Neither terrorism nor military
force can bring lasting peace or security for Israelis, Palestinians
and others in the region.
To counter further violence, we ask the United States government to
join with other nations to send an international monitoring force to
the region. We urge President Bush and Secretary of State Powell to
insist that both sides exercise restraint, and to encourage and
support an immediate resumption of negotiations to resolve the causes
of the conflict, and to construct a just and enduring
Israeli-Palestinian peace
Robert W. Edgar
General Secretary, National Council of Churches |
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