ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 7, 2008

Holy Land Lutheran Bishop Responds to Jerusalem Shooting, Gaza Violence
08-026-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Holy Land and Jordan, offered
"sincere condolences to all who are mourning the loss of loved
ones" in the wake of a March 6 shooting incident at a rabbinical
seminary in Jerusalem that left eight people dead, and after the
violence that has killed at least 120 people in Gaza this past
week.
     In the March 6 incident, a gunman entered the library of the
rabbinical school and began shooting. In addition to those who
were killed, at least nine were wounded before the Palestinian
gunman, a resident of East Jerusalem, was slain. Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack.
Meanwhile, Israel increased its military operations this week in
Gaza in response to rocket firings by militants into Jewish
neighborhoods.
     "We in the church have been steady and strong voices for
nonviolence," said Younan. "As it says in one of our Lutheran
schools, 'violence is the tool of the incompetent.' I believe it
is also the tool of the desperate and the hopeless. This is not
to excuse any violence on any side, but to face the hard reality
that unless people have something to live for they have nothing
to lose."
     Younan noted a human rights report issued this week stating
that the 1.4 million people in Gaza are suffering the worst
conditions in 40 years, with about 80 percent dependent on food
aid, 40 percent dependent on unemployment benefits, hospitals
with basic shortages of materials, and electricity, sewage and
water systems that are collapsing.
     "We in the church are afraid that this situation will only
spawn more retaliation and revenge that benefits no one. We must
not allow the deterioration of the situation to accelerate the
vicious cycle of violence. Lasting peace and security will never
come at the point of a gun or in the rubble of the shelling, but
only through hard and tough dialogue and the upholding of equal
human rights and international law," Younan wrote.
     Younan called on leaders and people living in the Holy Land
- including Christians, Jews and Muslims - to demonstrate to
children that there are other ways to solve problems. He said
people have a duty "to work for the sanctity of all human life
and to raise the voices of the moderates who comprise a vast
majority of the people on both sides. We cannot allow the
extremists and the cycle of revenge and counter-revenge to hold
the prospects of justice and peace hostage."
     He urged Israelis and Palestinians to stop the violence, the
missiles, shelling, shooting, rockets and incursions, and to
restore basic human rights to the people of Gaza.
     "Only through dialogue that represents all parties,
including those we deem enemies, will bring a lasting and durable
peace based on justice," Younan said. "May God bless all the
families of those who have been killed, and may God help us
together to reach a more just and dignified future for us all."
     Younan asked for partner churches throughout the world and
"all people of good conscience to make time in their services for
prayers of mercy for all people in the Holy Land."
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     The full text of Bishop Younan's statement is at
http://www.elcjhl.org/ on the Web.

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