Jerusalem churches on Palestinian statehood
30/9/2011
Among those with a significant stake in achieving a just-peace for Palestinians and Israelis are the Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem. Earlier this month they issued a communiqué, reported in Ekklesia (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/15393), which sets out their perception of the key principles involved in the debate about Palestinian statehood.
The full statement is as follows:
Looking ahead to the upcoming General Assembly of the United Nations in this September 2011 and the bid for Palestinian statehood, the Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem feel the need to intensify the prayers and diplomatic efforts for peace between Palestinians and Israelis, see this as the most appropriate time for such an opportunity, and thus wish to reiterate the following principles upon which we agree:
1. A two-state solution serves the cause of peace and justice.
2. Israelis and Palestinians must live each in their own independent states with peace, security and justice, respecting human rights, according to international law.
3. Negotiations are the best way to resolve all outstanding problems between the two sides.
4. Palestinians and Israelis should exercise restraint, whatever the outcome of the vote at the United Nations.
5. Jerusalem is a Holy City to the followers of all three Abrahamic faiths, in which all people should be able to live in peace and tranquility, a city to be shared by the two peoples and the three faiths.
Thus, we call upon decision makers and people of goodwill, to do their utmost to achieve the long awaited justice, peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians so that the prophecy of Prophet David is lived again:
“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” (Ps. 85: 10)
The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem are from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Latin Patriarchate, the Armenian Patriarchate, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate, the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, the Greek Melkite Catholic Church, the Maronite Archdiocese of Haifa and the Holy Land, the Syrian Catholic Church, and the Armenian Catholic Church.
