|
|
|
The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
|
| 06.09.2005 |
|
| LWF Leaders Raise Concerns about Augusta Victoria Hospital with Israeli State President |
| |
LWF Council Meeting in Jerusalem/Bethlehem,
31 August – 6 September 2005
PRESS RELEASE N0. 11-2005
Appeal for Government Intervention in AVH Tax Exemption Case
JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM, 6 September 2005 (LWI) - In a meeting with Israeli President Moshe Katsav, September 5, leaders of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) discussed prospects for Middle East peace and pressed specific financial concerns about the future of the LWF-run Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem.
LWF President Bishop Mark S. Hanson, General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, and Vice-President for the Asia region, Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan, met with Katsav in Jerusalem. They are attending the LWF Council meeting in Jerusalem and Bethlehem August 31 - September 6.
Hanson, also presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told Katsav that Lutherans were pleased with the Israeli government’s decision to withdraw settlements from Gaza. The LWF Council “came here out of our commitment to strengthen Jewish-Christian relationships and Christian-Muslim relationships,” he said.
Calling the withdrawal from Gaza “an historic opportunity,” the Israeli president said the government’s decision to withdraw was painful and divided Israeli society. He said the “gap” between Israelis and Palestinians “has never been as small as now.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whom the LWF leaders met with September 3, has the ability to stop terrorism against Israeli civilians, Katsav said.
According to Katsav, terrorism was key to why Palestinian people were suffering injustice, unemployment and poverty. He said Israel did not want an escalation of bloodshed, and noted that if Abbas could stop terrorism, it would benefit the Palestinian people.
Hanson said “stopping terrorism and violence is a major challenge,” and affirmed Lutherans’ rejection of violence, and their “support for a just and lasting peace for all.” Lutherans were concerned about the “massive struggle” of the Palestinian people to rebuild Gaza, and freedom of movement for people in the West Bank so that they are not separated from their jobs and families, the LWF president told Katsav.
Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, told Katsav that Israel’s security was dependent on justice, peace and reconciliation for Palestinians. He said local religious leaders have started a “Council for Religious Leadership in the Holy Land” to promote greater religious understanding.
“I believe that if the Lutheran church can contribute positively to stopping terrorism, we can renew political negotiation and dialogue,” the Israeli president said.
Noko said the LWF’s contribution to peace and international understanding included its 1984 action to renounce the anti-Jewish writings of Martin Luther, the German church reformer who started the Protestant Reformation.
The AVH represents the LWF’s commitment to peace and humanitarian service, Noko said. Presently the hospital is facing the possibility of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes to the State of Israel. In 2002 Israel took the LWF to court seeking to void a longstanding tax exemption the hospital has had since 1966 with Jordan. The exemption was continued under the State of Israel in 1967.
Israel won the case in a district court, and the LWF appealed the verdict to the Israeli Supreme Court. The LWF leaders are concerned that the hospital’s future may be jeopardized if the LWF loses the appeal. “It’s a difficult situation for us to continue with humanitarian services with the imposition of taxes. We hope that we can find a solution,” Noko said.
Hanson cautioned that if the government of Israel did not intervene and solve the tax case fairly, it could have negative consequences for Israel. He said more and more people were watching this case and its implications for the hospital, including the German president and prime minister of Norway, both of whom have expressed concern to the Israeli government.
Katsav’s adviser, Avi Granot said the AVH was registered as a hospital not a religious institution, and was taxed like all hospitals in Israel. But Rev. Mark B. Brown, director of the Jerusalem-based LWF Department for World Service (DWS) regional program said Israeli hospitals could qualify as teaching hospitals and receive subsides for which the AVH could not qualify.
“The hospital is unique. We’re serving people who are not part of the national health insurance who have little or no capacity to pay,” Brown said of the AVH’s services that include cancer treatment and kidney dialysis.
The LWF leaders also had brief courtesy visits September 5, with Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Silvan Shalom; Israel’s Minister of the Interior, Ophir Paz-Pines; and Jerusalem Mayor, Uri Lupolianski. (745 words)
*There are around 170 participants in this year’s Council meeting, including representatives from the LWF member churches on the 49-member governing body. Also attending are officials from LWF partner organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators, and LWF staff. The Council is the annual governing body meeting between Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other members include advisors, who are ordained and lay persons representing the different LWF regions.
|
If you want to edit this article yourself and adapt it to a given format, follow our editing information
|
|
|
|
|
|
