January 25, 2005

The Honorable Daniel Kurtzer

United States Ambassador to Israel

Tel Aviv, Israel

Dear Ambassador Kurtzer,

It is with anticipation of a productive and constructive time in your role as our country’s representative to Israel that we write today.  Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of the national offices of twenty denominations, religious orders and church-related agencies – Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant – has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that provides for the security, economic well-being and legitimacy that both peoples and their states need and deserve. 

Therefore we were extremely disappointed to read the news, first reported in Ha’aretz on January 21, that the Israeli cabinet has recently acted on a decision, made secretly at their July 8, 2004 meeting, that the State of Israel take ownership of a huge amount of Palestinian property in East Jerusalem. It is shocking to think that property worth hundreds of millions of dollars and owned by residents of the West Bank could be seized.  The residents of the largely-Christian communities that lie close to Jerusalem – Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour – are particularly effected by what is called “theft” and “state stupidity of the highest order” by Ha’aretz.

At this time when a great deal of pressure and encouragement is being directed toward Palestinian President Abbas to stop violence by militants and carry out governance reforms, Israel’s leaders should be taking actions that engender confidence in their intentions.  We urge you to make clear to Prime Minister Sharon and other Israeli political leaders that this land grab by Israel, which makes a mockery of the President’s stated vision of a viable state for the Palestinian people and destroys hope of peacemaking, must be overturned. 

The longtime efforts of the government of Israel to diminish Palestinian presence and legitimacy in East Jerusalem must halt and be reversed if Palestinians, and the international community, are expected to believe that the current and vigorous push for peace is not a ruse.

Israel’s building of separation barriers, both fences or walls, is a concrete deterrent to hope for a future of the two states and their peoples living as neighbors.  The dangerous impact of the separation barrier is most evident in and near Jerusalem: Palestinian land on the “wrong” side of the barrier is now being seized by Israel; East Jerusalem institutions that serve West Bank Palestinians are cut off from their populace; the essential role of East Jerusalem as the hub of a viable Palestinian state is being made impossible. The government of Israel has been somewhat responsive to the U.S.’s directives regarding the route of the barrier being on the green line and not damaging Palestinian life. Churches for Middle East Peace urges the United States government to again make clear to Prime Minster Sharon that he too has responsibilities to make the most of this new moment of opportunity, which could be the last opportunity for a durable Israeli-Palestinian peace. Your able assistance is requested and will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Corinne Whitlatch                                  J. Daryl Byler

Executive Director                                  Chair of the Board