September 5, 2005

JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM – Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has commended the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) for its continued support and commitment toward the Palestinian people in their search for a just peace in the Holy Land.

"I know how much you are doing for our people, [for] Muslims and Christians, and Jerusalem," Abbas told LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson; General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko; and Vice-President for the Asia region, Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan, during a meeting with the LWF leaders at the PA offices in Gaza City, September 3.

The LWF leaders met with Abbas in the context of this year's Council meeting hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) at the International Center of Bethlehem. The meeting's theme is "The Church: Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation."

Their discussions focused on the Middle East peace process, prospects for Lutheran schools, services offered by the LWF-run Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, and inter-faith relations.

Concerning the recent Israeli withdrawal from Gaza settlements, Abbas stressed the need to "take the momentum and work very hard to return to the Roadmap for Peace," developed by the United States, in cooperation with Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations (the Quartet), for a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Much has changed [but] much remains to be done," he said.

The PA President said he considered the recent disengagement from Gaza as a starting point of the Roadmap, and emphasized that further disengagement must continue. Palestinians need to "engage" the Israelis on peace issues. He expressed Palestinians' objection to the Israeli security wall, saying he was not convinced it would protect Israel. Israeli authorities argue the wall will prevent suicide bombers from accessing Israeli population.

Hanson, who is also presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, affirmed the LWF Council meeting in Jerusalem and Bethlehem as an indication of the "longstanding" commitment to the Palestinian people. "We will pray for you," Hanson told Abbas.

Noko expressed his gratitude to the PA President for the Palestinians' gesture of welcome to the LWF Council and solidarity with the ELCJHL. He said the venue of the meeting was an opportunity for representatives of LWF member churches worldwide to share the experiences of the Palestinian people with their churches.

Holy Places Must be Respected

The Lutheran leaders had earlier on met with the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger. In that meeting, Metzger expressed concern to the Lutherans about the fate of synagogues that remain in Gaza now that Israeli settlers had left. When Noko raised the subject with Abbas, the Palestinian president stressed the need to respect "each other's holy places." He noted however, it would be better if the Israelis removed the synagogues from the former settlements and relocated them, a point of view shared by the LWF general secretary.

Younan said he was working together with Muslim and Jewish leaders to establish a council for religious leadership in the Holy Land, and asked the PA president for his support toward the council's work. "The LWF and ELCJHL want to promote the right image about Islam" to the world, Younan said, adding that Palestinian Christians are the voice for Islam to the West and the whole world.

Abbas presented the Bethlehem 2000 Medal to Hanson and Younan, and read citations praising them for working for peace, justice and reconciliation, for promoting inter-faith relations, and for their work on behalf of the Palestinian people.

The LWF leaders are scheduled also to have discussions with Israeli President Moshe Katsav and other senior government officials this week.

Lutheran World Information