January 13, 2005

GENEVA - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has appealed to both the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to seize the opportunity for peace presented by the recent election of Mr Mahmoud Abbas as President of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

In letters addressed today to the PA president-elect and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon respectively, LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko says the election of Abbas offers both sides "a new chance for peace" in the Holy Land.

Noko requests Sharon to grasp this new chance "with both hands" and resume negotiations with the elected PA leadership "at the earliest possible juncture in order to strengthen the renewed hopes for peace that are growing in the hearts of Palestinians and Israelis alike."

Congratulating PA President-elect Abbas, the LWF general secretary underlines the major responsibility of leading the Palestinian people toward peace and self-determination and in "negotiating an end to the occupation that has caused so much conflict and suffering in your region."

Palestinians in the Occupied Territories elected the 69-year-old Abbas as PA president on 9 January 2005. Abbas claimed victory over six other candidates with 62 percent of the votes cast. He succeeds Yasser Arafat who died 11 November 2004 after leading the Palestinian people for four decades.

In his letter to the PA President-elect, Noko points to the LWF presence in the Holy Land especially through its member church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ) headed by Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan. "He has been a powerful witness to all of us in the LWF family of the plight and struggle of the Palestinian people, and a consistent voice for political dialogue and inter-faith cooperation in overcoming violence and occupation," he writes of Younan, whose church has congregations in Israel, Jordan and Palestine.

Noko also recognizes the PA's cooperation with the LWF in facilitating the delivery of essential health services through the Augusta Victoria Hospital and other humanitarian activities of the Jerusalem-based Department for World Service regional program.

The general secretary registers the LWF's appreciation of Arafat's commitment to protecting the rights of all religious communities in Palestine, saying such dedication was an important foundation for the yet-to-be established state of Palestine.

Lutheran World Information