ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 8, 2005

ELCA Bishops Address Middle East Hopes, Concerns
05-099-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) thanked U.S. President George W. Bush for his
recent public statements supporting the "Road Map" to Middle East peace
and said Bush's May 26 meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
was "an encouraging sign" of the Administration's effort to bring about
peace in the region.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson wrote to Bush the day after the White House
meeting with Abbas.  Hanson is also president of the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF), a global communion of churches representing 66 million
Lutherans worldwide.
     Three ELCA synod bishops who returned from a visit to the region
wrote a letter of their own to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
in which they addressed specific concerns about the treatment of
Palestinians.
     Hanson and several other religious leaders have advocated for the
"Road Map," a Middle East peace plan proposed by the United States,
Russia, the United Nations and the European Union.  In his letter Hanson
told the president that the ELCA and LWF have "deep ties" to the
Palestinian Lutheran community and a commitment to a two-state solution in
the Middle East.
     Bush pledged $50 million in aid to the Palestinians when he met with
Abbas.  Hanson said he called the Rev. Munib A.Younan, bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, following Bush's
remarks.
     "He (Younan) reminded me that the challenge now is to see the
manifestation of that commitment for the life of the people in their local
communities," Hanson wrote to Bush. "Several things -- consistent with the
Road Map -- are essential in the movement toward peace: the end of all
violence, cessation of the expansion of the settlements, removal of the
checkpoints, a halt to the construction of the separation barrier/wall on
Palestinian lands, aid for humanitarian relief and economic development."
     Hanson urged Bush to continue his "strong public and private
leadership, urging both sides toward such resolution."
     Hanson also addressed a specific LWF concern to Bush, an Israeli tax
case against Augusta Victoria Hospital, an LWF facility in East Jerusalem
that serves Palestinians. The State of Israel went to an Israeli court to
require that the hospital pay an employer's tax from which it had been
exempt since 1967.  In 2002 the court ruled in Israel's favor, which may
mean the hospital could be required to pay an estimated $350,000 annually
in employer's taxes, threatening the hospital's operations.  The Israeli
Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the LWF's appeal of the case.
     The hospital "is a marvelous example of the cooperation of people of
differing faiths for the sake of the healing of humanity," Hanson wrote to
Bush. "As your Administration is aware, an important decision on this case
is scheduled to be made in September 2005.  Anything that you or
representatives of your Administration can do to urge the Israeli
Government not only to resolve this lingering tax case but also to permit
Augusta Victoria Hospital to continue its vital work would be greatly
appreciated."

Synod Bishops Address Palestinian Treatment Concerns to Rice
     At the invitation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and
the Holy Land, three ELCA synod bishops toured the Middle East May 9-19.
The bishops were the Rev. Roy G. Almquist, Southeastern Pennsylvania
Synod, Norristown; the Rev. Kevin S. Kanouse, Northern Texas - Northern
Louisiana Synod, Dallas; and the Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, Central States
Synod, Kansas City, Mo.  The bishops traveled at their own expense, they
said.
     In a June 1 letter to Rice, the bishops said they are strong
supporters of the State of Israel and its right to exist. They also said
that they endorse the longstanding alliance between the United States and
Israel.
     The bishops said they "were profoundly distressed to discover the
great harm that the people of Palestine are enduring as a result of the
Israeli occupation and particularly Israel's recent actions that have
established arbitrary limitations on the movement of Palestinian people
among the West Bank, Jerusalem and the region of Gaza, a policy that has
(been) encouraged and is symbolized by the erection of the 'Security
Wall.'"
     The bishops said they spoke with church leaders and Israelis and
Palestinians during the trip.  Palestinians are suffering because of
"arbitrary and discriminatory practices and policies by the State of
Israel," the bishops said.
     "In what we believe is a clear violation of international law, Israel
is placing the Security Wall in such a way as to clearly sever Arab people
from their fields and their livelihoods," the bishops wrote. "Israel
refuses to grant reasonable requests for building permits for Palestinian
people.  At the same time, almost nothing is done to prevent illegal
placement of Jewish settlements on Arab land and, once established, these
settlers are granted many advantages, including protection through
Security Walls and fences.  The checkpoints that are a daily event for
Arab people cause terrible disruptions and delays, even death, often for
no apparent reason."
     The bishops explained that they were writing to Rice because they
believed the United States "is the only force" that can influence Israeli
policies.  They pointed out "unacceptable realities" such as economic
distress and persecution which are threatening a Christian presence in the
Holy Land; some religious sites, such as Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, are
inaccessible to Christians and others who would like to visit them; the
Security Wall, intended for Israel's security, which is a source of "anger
and outrage among the Palestinians" and has the effect of stealing
valuable land from the Palestinian people;" and the "highly arbitrary
policy" of the State of Israel in destroying Palestinian homes which the
bishops said "is a great source of pain and sadness."
     The bishops said they "strongly condemn" acts of brutality and
terrorism, focused on innocent civilians.  They said they told
Palestinians that such actions and the so-called second intifada are
"futile."
     The bishops also asked Rice to meet with ELCA and LWF officials about
the tax case involving Augusta Victoria Hospital. "We call on you to
encourage the Government of Israel to preserve the LWF's comprehensive tax
exemption," they wrote.
     "In the hope that it is not too late, we urge you and the Bush
Administration to do all that you can to encourage Israel to stop the
excessive acts that diminish the life of the Palestinian people and
expropriate from them land that is vital for Palestinian expansion and
agriculture," the bishops wrote. "We say in a precious American statement
that we are committed to 'liberty and justice for all.'  That is what we
seek for both the people of Israel and the Palestinian people," the
bishops' letter concluded.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news