FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Warren Clark

Churches for Middle East Peace

202 543 1222; warren@cmep.org  

[Washington, DC- May 9, 2008] Churches for Middle East Peace, representing 22 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant national church bodies, sent a letter to President Bush today urging him to help Israel and the Palestinians reach a peace agreement this year and help improve daily life in the Holy Land right now to enable meaningful progress forward.   

"The U.S. role is essential in achieving a peace agreement", said Warren Clark, CMEP's Executive Director.  "This is definitely not a conflict without a peaceful solution", he said, "but only active U.S. leadership can give the parties the confidence they need.  An agreement also is essential to U.S. security interests in the region.  Failure now will only strengthen those who advocate continuing confrontation and violence."     

The letter comes as the President heads to the Middle East to continue the Annapolis peace efforts and during a time of both happy and solemn commemorations.  Israel celebrates the 60th anniversary of its independence and Palestinians remember their "Nakba" or catastrophe.  In the CMEP letter, the Board members reflected that, "After too many years of suffering on both sides, a just and lasting two-state peace agreement would be a crowning achievement for Israel and the realization of Palestinian aspirations for statehood."   

Commenting on the current moment, Clark said, "Now is the crucial time to re-energize the peace process.  The United States must help the two peoples find a way out of their bitter histories and tragic conflict to a place where both can live in peace and security in two states.  Quoting the prophet Micah, he said, "We must work and pray for the day when 'each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid.'"  

The text of the letter from the CMEP Board to President Bush and the full list of signers is as follows:

Dear Mr. President,

Your forthcoming visit to the Middle East to commemorate the 60thanniversary of Israel's independence and to conduct talks with Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas represents a crucial opportunity to make serious progress on the Annapolis peace process launched last November. After too many years of suffering on both sides, a durable and equitable two-state peace agreement would be a crowning achievement for Israel and the realization of Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

As you are well aware, finding agreement on long standing disputes in the Middle East is never easy. Many obstacles remain. Rocket attacks, military retaliations and border restrictions continue to lead to death and suffering in Gaza and in southern Israel. Ongoing Israeli settlement expansion undermines Palestinian leadership that seeks peace with Israel, while closures and roadblocks disrupt everyday economic and social life in the West Bank. Your efforts to improve daily life right now for Palestinians and Israelis can be an important step in keeping hope alive to build necessary support for peace at a time when there is deep skepticism that an agreement can be reached or implemented.

As we bear witness to these challenges, we also believe the timing for an agreement this year is in some ways propitious. Parameters of final status issues have been discussed in detail and are widely known. Israeli and Palestinian leaders are engaged in serious dialogue and have good reasons to reach an agreement. Both Israeli and Palestinian public opinion support the idea of peace based on a two state solution.

Failure to make meaningful progress this year would strengthen those who seek confrontation and contribute to ongoing regional instability that also is counter to U.S. national security interests. The role of the United States is crucial. The path to an agreement cannot be traveled by the two parties alone. Israel will need reassurances about its security that only the U.S. can provide. Palestinians and Arab states will need U.S. assurances that terms of an agreement will be carried out.

Your determined leadership now can leave the legacy of a brighter future for the Holy Land. There is much to be done within the time remaining. We hope and pray that acting with good faith, courage and generosity, you can help the parties reach agreement and finally end this tragic conflict.

Sincerely,

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Armenian Orthodox Church

Bishop Wayne Burkette
President, Southern Province
The Moravian Church in America

James Fine
Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy
Friends Committee on National Legislation

Dennis W. Frado
Director
Lutheran Office of World Community
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Catherine Gordon
Representative for International Issues
Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Mark Harrison
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society

Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey
Minister for Mission and Ecumenism
Alliance of Baptists

Phil Jones
Director
Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Church of the Brethren

Aura Kanegis
Director
Public Policy and Washington Office
American Friends Service Committee

Rob Keithan
Director, Washington Office for Advocacy
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Rev. Michael Kinnamon
General Secretary
National Council of Churches USA

Rev. Jim Kofski, MM
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Peter Makari
Middle East and Europe Global Ministries
United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director and CEO
Church World Service

T. Michael McNulty, SJ
Justice and Peace Director
Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)

The Very Rev. George Rados
Representative
Antiochian Christian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America

Marilyn Rouvelas
Representative
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Maureen Shea
Director, Office of Government Relations
The Episcopal Church

Ann V. Staal
Social Witness/MidEast
Reformed Church in America

Russell Testa
Director, JPIC
Franciscan Friars (OFM)

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hurches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is a coalition of Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant church bodies and organizations that work together in pursuit of a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict where two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.