Support for Call to Freeze All Israeli Settlement Activity
GENEVA, 20 March 2010 (LWI) – The Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has welcomed the “clear and forceful language” used by representatives of the United Nations, Russian Federation, United States and European Union (the Middle East Quartet) in denouncing new settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West bank.
In a statement issued in Geneva on 20 March, the LWF Executive Committee said such activity was a “principal obstacle” to progress toward the objectives of “a two-state solution, to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, to peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, and to Jerusalem as a city shared between the two peoples and three religions.”
The Quartet, meeting in Moscow, Russia, on 19 March, issued a statement reaffirming its previous declarations urging the government of Israel to stop settlement activity in the contested areas, dismantle outposts erected since 2001 and refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem.
The LWF governing body said it concurred with the Quartet’s call “for a freeze on all Israeli settlement activity (including ‘natural growth’)” It endorsed the group’s expressed support “for the negotiated resolution of all final status issues, the end of the occupation, and the establishment of a Palestinian state within 24 months.”
The Quartet expressed deep concern about the continuing deterioration in Gaza, including the humanitarian and human rights situations of the civilian population.
On that subject, the LWF leaders said “We reiterate our special concern about the accelerating emigration of Christians from the land of Christ’s birth. We call for urgent and continuing international solidarity with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and its sister churches in the Holy Land and for enhanced support for their ministries for education and social services, and for justice, peace and reconciliation.”
For many years, Lutheran churches have provided humanitarian services to people in Jerusalem and the West Bank, largely through the Augusta Victoria Hospital and related programs. The LWF remains committed to continuing those services, the Executive Committee said.
The 13-member Executive Committee met in Geneva from 19 to 21 March. It comprises the LWF President—Bishop Mark S. Hanson, as chairperson—five Vice Presidents, the Treasurer and chairpersons of the Program Committees. It oversees the proper functioning of the LWF between meetings of the Council, and acts as the LWF Board of Trustees and Personnel Committee.
The LWF governing body further called “for the immediate lifting of the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip, for urgent international action to alleviate the suffering of its people, and for all parties to refrain from violent or provocative actions.” (465 words)
The full text of the LWF Executive Committee statement follows:
LWF Executive Committee Statement in Response to 19 March 2010 Statement by Middle East Quartet
20 March 2010
On the occasion of its meeting in Geneva, the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) warmly welcomes the statement issued on 19 March 2010 by the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, Russian Federation, United States and European Union) concerning the present status of the peace process in Israel-Palestine.
The LWF, with 140 member churches in 79 countries and representing approximately 70 million people, has long maintained its commitment to a two-state solution, to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, to peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, and to Jerusalem as a city shared between the two peoples and three religions. The fulfillment of this vision, as noted by the Quartet in its statement, is in the fundamental interests of both parties and essential for peace in the region and wider world.
The LWF especially welcomes the clear and forceful language with which the Quartet has denounced ongoing settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as a principal obstacle to progress towards these objectives. We concur with the call issued by the Quartet for a freeze on all Israeli settlement activity (including ‘natural growth’), for the dismantling of outposts erected since March 2001, and for the Israeli authorities to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem.
We strongly endorse the Quartet’s expressed support for the negotiated resolution of all final status issues, the end of the occupation, and the establishment of a Palestinian state within 24 months.
We urge the Quartet to follow these clear words with effective actions, to closely accompany the parties in the negotiation process, and to take expeditiously such additional steps as may be necessary to address the situation as it evolves.
We reiterate our special concern about the accelerating emigration of Christians from the land of Christ’s birth. We call for urgent and continuing international solidarity with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and its sister churches of the Holy Land, and for enhanced support for their ministries for education and social services, and for justice, peace and reconciliation.
The LWF remains committed to continuing to provide essential humanitarian services to the people of Jerusalem and the West Bank, through the Augusta Victoria Hospital and its other programs. We further call for the immediate lifting of the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip, for urgent international action to alleviate the suffering of its people, and for all parties to refrain from violent or provocative actions.
The LWF Executive Committee asks the General Secretary to convey these concerns and sentiments to the members of the Quartet, to the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and to such others as he may consider appropriate.
