ELCA NEWS SERVICE
December 5, 2008
ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Leaders Call for Priority on Middle East Peace
08-203-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Declaring that they won't give in to
cynicism or despair and that they are "people of hope," 31 U.S.
Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, including the Rev. Mark
S. Hanson, presiding bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), called for members of their communities to pray
for peace in Jerusalem. They also urged U.S. political leaders
to advance a two-state solution "with vigor both now and in the
early months of the new (Obama) Administration."
In a Dec. 4 public statement issued through the National
Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle
East, the religious leaders restated their belief that the
United States has a special responsibility to pursue peace in
the region. "Israeli-Palestinian peace must be an urgent
priority for President-elect Obama from the day he takes
office," the religious leaders wrote. "Achieving
Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace will have positive
reverberations in the region and around the world. Our
nation and the world will be much safer with the achievement
of the peace of Jerusalem."
Despite tragic acts of violence and other developments,
the leaders wrote that there are signs of hope in the Middle
East. For example, they noted that a majority of both
Israelis and Palestinians still support separate states
for each, that Arab states declared their commitment to
peace in the Arab Peace Initiative and that the United
States convened the international community in Annapolis,
Md., to support a renewed peace process. The religious
leaders said they are encouraged also by the work of the
Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land.
The religious leaders pointed out that there have been
serious setbacks in the Middle East. They cited such things
as Palestinian rocket attacks and threats by Iran against
Israel, a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the political split
between Gaza and the West Bank, political weakness in the
Israeli and Palestinian leadership, plus a transition to a
new U.S. administration.
"There is a real danger that cynicism will replace hope
and that people will give up on peace," the religious leaders
wrote. "This dangerous time demands clarity. So let us be
clear. As religious leaders, we remain firmly committed to
a two-state solution to the conflict as the only viable way
forward. We believe that concerted, sustained U.S. leadership
for peace is essential. And we know that time is not on the
side of peace, that delay is not an option."
"The path to peace shuns violence and embraces dialogue.
This path demands reciprocal steps that build confidence. This
path can lead to a future of two states, Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace with security and dignity for both
peoples and stability in the region," the statement said.
Since 2003 the U.S. Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders
have worked together for a two-state solution to the Middle
East conflict, based on U.N. Security Council resolutions and
the peace of Jerusalem. The leaders said they have prayed for
peace, made public statements, met with public officials and
stood in solidarity with religious leaders in Israel, the
Palestinian Territories and throughout the region.
The religious leaders sent their statement to
President-elect Barack Obama.
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The text of the U.S. religious leaders' statement is at
http://www.episcopal-life.org/documents/NILINov08Statement.pdf
on the Web.
The text of the letter to President-elect Barack Obama is
at http://www.episcopal-life.org/documents/NILILettetoObama.pdf
on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
