May 16, 2003

CHICAGO - Calling for "bold leadership," United States church and church organization leaders sent letters May 14 to the prime ministers of the Israeli and Palestinian governments to offer encouragement for the current Middle East peace plan. The letters were delivered two days prior to the first scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and recently appointed Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was one of 17 church leaders who signed the letters.

The letters were coordinated through Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of 18 Catholic and Protestant organizations. Other signers included the leaders of the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ, all ELCA full communion partners; and leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Methodist Church, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., many historic peace churches, and the heads of U.S. Catholic organizations.

The letters addressed the peace plan known as "Road Map to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." The plan was developed under auspices of the United States, European Union, Russia and United Nations.

"We pray that this initiative will reawaken the hopes and will fulfill the longings of your peoples that this longstanding conflict be resolved and the vision of two nations living in peace realized," the church leaders wrote. "You will be asked to leave behind many past ambitions and animosities and to convince your own people that difficult concessions can indeed lead to true peace. Fortunately, you begin this journey in the knowledge that other nations will accompany you and that countless people of goodwill will join you in these tasks."

The occupation of Palestinian territories must end, the church leaders said, adding the occupation has "severely stunted the development and character of both societies."

In addition, "violence by terrorists, extremists and military forces must end," they said.

Sharon and Abbas must transform public opinion among the people they serve, the leaders said. To Sharon, the U.S. church leaders said Israeli settlements and their related infrastructure "cannot be allowed to carve up a future Palestinian state and demoralize the Palestinian population." To Abbas, they said "the Palestinian leadership and people must unequivocally end violence and terrorism, the language of hatred that feeds violence and the glorification of those who use violence."

The U.S. church leaders said the rejection of violence by both sides is essential.

"Both peoples will watch for concrete actions of the other's government," the letters said. "Israelis rightly expect the Palestinian leadership to prohibit calls for violence against Israelis and to demonstrate that it had decisively clamped down on militants and terrorism. Likewise, Palestinians will rightly expect that Israel will not use violence such as assassinations and killing and injuring of civilians, the demolition of houses and groves, harassment at checkpoints, confiscation of lands or actions that threaten the very existence of Palestinians in Jerusalem."

The church leaders closed their letters with an appeal to Christians, Jews and Muslims to pray for peace in the region.

In addition, the U.S. church leaders forwarded copies of the letters to President George W. Bush and members of the U.S. Congress. They appealed to Bush to use the "full authority" of the presidency in supporting the Road Map, and they urged members of the Congress to support Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell as they begin their work with the Road Map.

"For the sake of peace and justice in the Holy Land, our prayers are with you," the church leaders said in their letters to Bush and members of Congress.

ELCA News Service