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Christian Conference of Asia
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PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS CALL TO END THE OCCUPATIONThe call, issued at a 11 December meeting in Bethlehem by a group of Palestinian Christians representing churches and church-related organizations,, comes at a time when many Palestinians believe they have reached a dead end. It raises questions to the international community, political leaders in the region, and the churches worldwide about their contribution to the Palestinian people's pursuit of freedom. Even in the midst of "our catastrophe" the call is described as a word of faith, hope and love. The authors of the Kairos Palestine Document, among them Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem Munib Younan, and Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, have raised the challenge of the urgency for peace with justice to religious and political leaders in Palestinian and the Israeli society, international community, and to "our Christian brothers and sisters in the churches" around the world. They believe that current efforts in the Middle East are confined to managing the crisis rather than finding pertinent and long term solutions to the crisis. Decrying empty promises Expressing their pain, the signatories of the call decry the emptiness of the promises and pronouncements about peace in the region. They remind the world about the separation wall erected on Palestinian territory, the blockade of Gaza, how Israeli settlements ravage their land, the humiliation at military checkpoints, the restrictions of religious liberty and controlled access to holy places, the plight of refugees awaiting their right of return, prisoners languishing in Israeli prisons and Israel's blatant disregard of international law, as well as the paralysis of the international community in the face of this tragedy. Rejecting Israeli justifications for their actions as being in self-defence, they unambiguously state that if there were no occupation, "there would be no resistance, no fear and no insecurity." Declaring the occupation of Palestinian land as a sin against God and humanity, they steadfastly adhere to the signs of hope such as "local centres of theology" and "numerous meetings for inter-religious dialogue", recognizing that these signs provide hope to the resistance of the occupation. Through the logic of peaceful resistance, resistance is as much a right as it is a duty as it has the potential to hasten the time of reconciliation. Asserting that this is a moment demanding repentance for past actions, either for using hatred as an instrument of resistance or the willingness to be indifferent and absorbed by faulty theological positions, the group calls on the international community and Palestinians for steadfastness in this time of trial. "Come and see [so we can make known to you] the truth of our reality", they appeal. Poignantly, they conclude, "in the absence of all hope, we cry out our cry of hope. We believe in God, good and just. We believe that God's goodness will finally triumph over the evil of hate and of death that still persist in our land. We will see here 'a new land' and 'a new human being', capable of rising up in the spirit to love each one of his or her brothers and sisters." The authors are: • Patriarch Michel Sabbah • Bishop Dr Munib Younan • Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna • Rev. Dr Jamal Khader • Rev. Dr Rafiq Khoury • Rev. Dr Mitri Raheb • Rev. Dr Naim Ateek • Rev. Dr Yohana Katanacho • Rev. Fr Fadi Diab • Dr Jiries Khoury • Ms Sider Daibes • Ms Nora Kort • Ms Lucy Thaljieh • Mr Nidal Abu Zulof • Mr Yusef Daher • Mr Rifat Kassis - coordinator of the initiative CCA is a member of the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum and is actively engaged in the campaign to end the occupation and to stop all settlement expansion programs, starting with East Jerusalem. Asian churches also support the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program on Palestine and Israel and the World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel 2010. posted by cbs on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 |
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