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World Council of Churches intensifies efforts to end occupation |
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Monday, 02 July 2007 |
From 18 - 20 June in Amman, Jordan, more than 130 representatives from
churches and Christian organizations attended a conference entitled "Churches
together for peace and justice the Middle East" organized by the World Council
of Churches (WCC). The WCC unites more than 340 churches in over a hundred
countries and territories, representing about 550 million Christians. "Churches
have woken up to the issues in the Middle East like never been before. Another
time we woke up is when we fought apartheid in Africa; this is another
apartheid," WCC general secretary Reverend Dr. Sam Kobia told The Jordan Times
after the conference.
Time for action
The Amman Call, the concluding statement of the WCC conference, opens with a
plea of Palestinian Christians from the occupied Palestinian territories and
Israel to their brothers and sisters all over the world: "Enough is enough. No
more words without deeds. It is time for action." The decision of the World
Council of Churches central committee to launch the "Palestine Israel Ecumenical
Forum to catalyze and coordinate new and existing church advocacy for peace,
aimed at ending the illegal occupation in accordance with UN resolutions, and
demonstrate its commitment to inter-religious action for peace and justice that
serves all the peoples of the region," is affirmed in the Amman Call.
The Amman Call for action is based on a set of assumptions, including that UN
resolutions are the basis for peace and the Geneva conventions are applicable;
that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and the right
of return; that a two-state solution must be viable politically, geographically
economically and socially; that Jerusalem must be an open, accessible, inclusive
and shared city; and that the Israeli settlements and the wall in the occupied
Palestinian territories are illegal, and constitute an obstacle to peace.
The Palestine Israel Ecumenic Forum will develop strategies for processes of
peace making and peace building, and will include "defining and promoting
measures, including economic ones, that could help end the occupation and
enhance sustainable growth and development."
Previous call for economic measures
On 21 February 2005, the Central Committee of the WCC encouraged its member
churches to give serious consideration to economic measures as a new way to work
for peace, and to explore ways not to participate economically in illegal
activities related to the Israeli occupation. In a speech to the annual
conference of the International Council of Christians and Jews on 24 July 2005,
general secretary Sam Kobia responded to criticism of the WCC's call for
economic pressure as a tool for peace. He noted that the WCC had denounced
anti-Semitism as a "sin against God and man." Not every criticism made of Israel
and Israeli policies is anti-Semitic, according to Kobia.
Challenges
The Amman Call for Action also names some of the challenges the churches have to
face when they work towards peace in the Middle East. "Raise your voices along
with ours as we speak "truth to power" and name with courage the injustices we
see and experience. The illegal occupation has stolen two generations of lives
in this tortured place, and threatens the next with hopelessness and rage. ...
Risk the curses and abuse that will be aimed at you and stand in solidarity with
us and with our Palestinian brothers and sisters of all faiths as we defiantly
reject the possibility that occupation will continue. ... Insist with us that
all dispossessed peoples, all refugees, have the right of return."
Inspiration
The Dutch Ecumenical Taskgroup "Turning Point," working for a just peace in
Palestine and Israel, organized a conference on 8 June 2007 around how churches
and Christians can respond to forty years of Israeli occupation. The secretary
of the Dutch non-governmental organization "A Different Jewish Voice," Hajo
Meijer spoke words, which can be a source of inspiration to the WCC and its
membership. According to Meijer there is no balance of power between Israel and
the Palestinians. Therefore, intervention from outside is needed to put pressure
on Israel. Churches have considerable influence and they should use this. Meijer,
who survived the horrors of Auschwitz, reminded the audience that Dutch
Christians risked their lives trying to protect him during the German occupation
of the Netherlands. He added, "To put pressure on Israel carries no personal
physical danger, it only requires the moral courage to act."
Comments posted are the sole opinion of the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of AIM. |
