===============================================================================

1. Prospects for Progress: U.S. Leadership is Key
2. Gaza Agreements: A Step Forward
3. Jerusalem News
4. Focus on Holy Land Christians

 ===============================================================================  

1. Prospects for progress: U.s. Leadership IS KEY

With elections looming for both Israel and the Palestinians, it is a tenuous time politically in both societies.  The tragic suicide bombing attack in Israel on December 5^th underscores the fragility of the current situation and the need for continued efforts toward securing peace between Israel and the Palestinians.  The recent US-brokered agreement on Gaza’s border crossings arrangements shows that progress can be made and illustrates the importance of American engagement.  The articles below reflect on the events of the past month, the need to maintain the momentum and hope for peace and the key role that U.S. leadership can play. 

”Time to spark the Mideast peace process”, William S. Cohen, The Boston Globe, November 13, 2005. 

“In September, Israel completed its Gaza withdrawal with remarkably little conflict, confounding pundits who had predicted violence between Israeli settlers and soldiers and demonstrating the resiliency of Israel's democratic society. The ensuing weeks, however, have confounded those who hoped the withdrawal would reinvigorate Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and demonstrated the resiliency of the conflict between the two societies. The inability of the Israelis and Palestinians to reenergize the negotiations underscores the need for high-level involvement by the United States. I applaud Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is currently in the region, for meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The Bush administration should use her visit to reenergize the peace process….”

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/11/13/time_to_spark_the_mideast_peace_process/ 

“An Israeli View: Three Important Precedents”, Yossi Alpher, Bitterlemons (Edition 41): The Gaza crossings and third parties, November 29, 2005

“…The breakthrough to agreement also witnessed the debut of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a forceful mediator between Israelis and Palestinians…Thus the Gaza crossings agreement represents a good start, however brief and delayed, toward investing the right level of third party energies in Israeli-Palestinian relations. What that level will be in the coming years will depend on the nature of the governments in Jerusalem and Ramallah and their preference for negotiations, unilateralism or stalemate.” 

http://www.bitterlemons.org/previous/bl291105ed41.html#isr1 (Bitterlemons is a website that presents Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints on prominent issues of concern). 

 “A Palestinian View: A model for the future”, Ghassan Khatib, Bitterlemons (Edition 41): The Gaza crossings and third parties, November 29, 2005

“The agreement that was recently reached on the Gaza crossings, including the Rafah crossing, was a very significant event and can be seen as a model to be followed in trying to solve other components of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict…The agreement was only made possible because of a systematic, active and balanced third party role…[and] was cemented after the direct and serious last minute intervention of high-level US officials, particularly Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice….”

http://www.bitterlemons.org/previous/bl291105ed41.html#pal1

2. Gaza agreements: a step forward

Nearly two months after the Gaza withdrawal, on November 15, 2005 an agreement was reached concerning Gaza’s crossing points. The agreement is an important step forward in improving the Palestinian economy, increasing Israeli security and fostering Israeli-Palestinian cooperation.  Below are links to the agreements and the statement by Secretary Rice and Quartet officials. 

“Agreed documents by Israel and Palestinians on movement and access from and to Gaza”, U.S. Department of State, Jerusalem, November 15, 2005

“Negotiators from Israel and the Palestinian Authority November 15 achieved an agreement on facilitating the movement of people and goods within the Palestinian Territories and on opening an international crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border that will put the Palestinians in control of the entry and exit of people…The details of the agreement are contained in two documents -- Agreement on Movement and Access, and Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing…”

http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/Archive/2005/Nov/15-381874.html

“Joint Press Availability With Secretary Condoleezza Rice, European Union High Representative Javier Solana and Quartet Special Envoy Jim Wolfensohn”, David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, November 15, 2005

“Secretary Rice:…I am pleased to be able to announce today that Israel and the Palestinian Authority have concluded an agreement on movement and access….This agreement is intended to give the Palestinian people freedom to move, to trade, to live ordinary lives…With the international community, Israel and the Palestinian Authority must keep working hard to make these measures work in practice. As they are implemented, trust can grow. Prime Minister Sharon and President Abbas have shown real statesmanship in making the decisions that led to this agreement.  Meanwhile, our commitment to security is strong, as always…Palestinians and Israelis have many other concerns to address on the roadmap toward two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace. But today’s steps show that progress continues. As Palestinians move back and forth to the outside world, as they trade with their Israeli neighbors, the lives of ordinary people on both sides will change for the better…”

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/56890.htm

3. jerusalem news

• Latest on Issues in East Jerusalem from the Foundation for Middle East Peace

The Foundation for Middle East Peace’s Nov.-Dec. 2005 “Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories” includes a map entitled "Compromising Palestinian Jerusalem" which portrays “the emerging territorial reality of critical parts of East Jerusalem and its immediate West Bank hinterland.”  Below are links to the article and map. 

Article: http://www.fmep.org/reports/vol15/no6/07_compromising_palestinian_jerusalem.html

Map: http://www.fmep.org/maps/map_data/jerusalem/compromising_palestinian_jerusalem_the_adumim_bloc.html

• Jerusalem Stories

The below article, recently published in an Israeli newspaper, features a project called “Jerusalem Stories”.  For more information on this project go to: http://www.jerusalemstories.org/. 

“Turning the Page”, Shelly Banjo, Ha’aretz, October 31, 2005

“…Jerusalem Stories does not only focus on the hate, horror or hardships that media coverage of Jerusalem and the Middle East tends to emphasize. The project goes past the headlines, to humanize the conflict and highlight the daily struggles and triumphs of ordinary people. It uses storytelling to introduce audiences to real people who live in Jerusalem, letting the words of a Palestinian Muslim shopkeeper, an Israeli Jew about to be drafted into the IDF, young participants of Seeds of Peace, a Palestinian Anglican Priest working at St. George's Cathedral in East Jerusalem, and an Israeli Jewish tour guide, tell the true story of the city… ‘By sharing what the city means to her residents, Jerusalem Stories visibly demonstrates how people from so many backgrounds can have authentic ties to this extraordinary place,’ said Grosman [project director]…” 

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=639877

• New Settlement Plans in East Jerusalem

“Jewish housing project planned for E. J'lem hotel site”, By Etgar Lefkovits, The Jerusalem Post, November 9, 2005

“A controversial east Jerusalem construction project, which is being backed by an American Jewish millionaire and an Israeli right-wing organization, has moved a step closer to fruition after a city committee approved the demolition of a century-old hotel at the site. The building proposal, which was conceived in the 1990s, would see the construction of 90 apartment units, a synagogue and a kindergarten at the site of the historic Shepherd's Hotel in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah…” http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131367051116&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

• Analyses of EU Report on East Jerusalem from Israeli organization, Ir Amim

Ir Amim, an Israeli organization that was founded in order to actively engage in those issues impacting Israeli-Palestinian relations in Jerusalem and the political future of the city, released the statement below following the European Union’s report on East Jerusalem (the report is to be released publicly on December 12, 2005).  For more information go to: http://www.ir-amim.org.il/. 

“Ir Amim following the British Report on Israel’s Activity in East Jerusalem”, Amos Gil, November 25, 2005

”The facts detailed in the British Foreign Ministry’s report on Israel’s activities in East Jerusalem describe a policy that has been carried out for the last couple of years. In this period Israel has intensified its attempts to establish unilateral facts on the ground. These include the route of the Security Barrier in and around Jerusalem, the ultimate aim of which is to promote political goals rather than security needs; the annexation of more West Bank areas around Jerusalem, like E1; and the renewed building of Jewish settlements in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.  Ir Amim is concerned that these policies will hurt the Israeli interest, as they compromise the relative stability in the city and any political settlement with the Palestinians.”
 

4. Focus on holy land christians

• Franciscan Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land Reports to Vatican

“Custody Official Urges Good Ties With Israelis; Vicar in Holy Land Asks Support for Christians”, Zenit, November 22, 2005

In a statement to the Vatican missionary agency Fides on the occasion of the visit of the president of Israel, Moshe Katsav, to the Vatican on Thursday, Nov 17th, Father Artemio Vitores, Franciscan vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land said, “Good relations with the people of Israel must be encouraged, and Christians in this land must be supported…The climate of good relations is also felt in the Holy Land with increasing efforts to reach a better mutual understanding between Jews and Christians, which will bring reciprocal spiritual, social, as well as economic benefits, with a flow of pilgrimages.  However, we must speak of the situation in Bethlehem.  The Israeli authorities increased control at Jerusalem border check points is creating difficulties for the local people, the friars and pilgrims. Help us keep Bethlehem, where Christians are ever fewer…There is a danger that Christians may disappear from Bethlehem altogether…”   

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=80220 

• Holy Land Christians on Interreligious Tolerance & Co-Existence

The below excerpts are from the November newsletter of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).  For more information about the ELCJHL, please go to: http://www.holyland-lutherans.org/. 

Christian-Muslim Relations:

“Questions for the Bishop [Mounib Younan]: I've heard that the real reason the Christians are leaving the Holy Land is because they are being persecuted by the Muslims.  Is this true?”   

“No, not on a widespread basis.  We Palestinian Christians have lived side by side with Muslims – and Jews – for centuries as neighbors, integrated together in the same community.  There may be isolated problems, but often they are cultural and not really religious.  For example, you may have heard about recent problems in the Christian village of Taybeh.  A Muslim woman from a nearby village having an affair with a Christian man from Taybeh was the victim of an ‘honor-killing’.   The ELCJHL has repeatedly spoken out against such reprehensible acts.  Men from the village then went to Taybeh where they went on a rampage and burned 7 homes, making 12 families homeless.  This crime, however, also happens between Muslim families.  It is the cultural norms that were breached that caused the crime.  Once begun, religion entered into it. What is more important is the role the church can play in healing these matters.  The communities called on Patriarch Sabbah of the Roman Catholic church here to help mediate the conflict, which he did.  This is just one example of the overall trust and good relations most Christians have here with most Muslims, and the respect held by most Muslims for the Church.  The problem is that the more extreme all religions become, the more this type of thing can be blown into a religious problem.   We must each in our own religions speak out against hate and violence done in the name of religion and together promote common human values of respect for all of God's creation, tolerance, justice, peace and the equal human dignity of every child of God.”

The Amman Message:

“In late October, Bishop Younan joined almost 200 Muslim, Christian and Jewish faith leaders gathered in Amman for the one year anniversary of the release of the Amman Message by King Abdullah last year…He praised the initiative for its theology that promotes an Islamic theology of tolerance, love and mutual respect for one another.  It also condemns any kind of terrorism or extremism.  He said the Arab Christian Church can be instrumental in building bridges between Islam and the Western world because of its 1400 years of living peacefully with Muslims…”

The Nostra Aetate:

“An interfaith group of about 100 in Jerusalem attended a 40th anniversary celebration of the Catholic Church's Vatican Two document encouraging dialogue and mutual respect toward Jewish and other faiths.  It was a groundbreaking document that has opened the way for useful interfaith dialogue and was a catalyst for building good relations between faiths.”

For more information contact Julie Schumacher Cohen, CMEP’s Legislative Assistant at 202-543-1222 or at Julie@cmep.org.