World Religion Statements

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="057285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>TurnTheTide</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TurnTheTide"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>  </B><A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Background Archives"><U><B>Background Archives</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Key Resources"><U><B>Key Resources</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Einsteins Page"><U><B>Einstein's Page</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rachels Page"><U><B>Rachel's Page</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Perceptions of 9/11"><U><B>Perceptions of "9/11"</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>World Religion Statements</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congress Connect"><U><B>Congress Connect</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="056d2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index_site_map.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TurnTheTide"><U><B>LINK TO SITE MAP</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>World Religion Statements</I></div> <div> <B>1.The Assisi Dialogue</B></div> <div> <B>2. Open letter to U.S. Secretary of State, General Colin Powell: </B><I><B>from Members of English-Speaking Christian Communities in the Holy Land</B></I></div> <div> <B>3. Statement from Rabbis for Human Rights (Israel and North America)</B></div> <div> <B>4. Statement from the United Methodist Church Council of Bishops</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>THE BIG NEWS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T SEE</B></I></div> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="1_the_assisi_decalogue_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>1 The Assisi Decalogue </U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>. By David Waters </B></div> <div> <I><B>   Memphis Tennessee Commercial Appeal </B></I></div> <div> . </div> <div> <B>. What if leaders of the world's major religions got together one day </B></div> <div> <B>. and denounced all religious violence? What if they unanimously agreed </B></div> <div> <B>.  to make this plain, clear and bold statement to the world? "Violence </B></div> <div> <B>. and terrorism are opposed to all true religious spirit and we condemn </B></div> <div> <B>. all recourse to violence and war in the name of God or religion." </B></div> <div> <B>.  It could change the world. It could save the planet. At the very least, it would be  </B></div> <div> <B>. big news, wouldn't it? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>. Apparently not. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  More than 200 leaders of the world's dozen major religions did get </B></div> <div> <B>.   together Jan. 24 in Assisi, Italy. Maybe you missed the story about it </B></div> <div> <B>.  the next day. Most newspapers didn't carry it. And it was hidden </B></div> <div> <B>.  inside many of those that did. There was a lot of other news that </B></div> <div> <B>.   day. The Enron hearings opened in Washington. John Walker Lindh made </B></div> <div> <B>.  his first court appearance. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  It's no wonder the largest meeting of world religious leaders in </B></div> <div> <B>.  history couldn't even make the front page. Pope John Paul II and a </B></div> <div> <B>.  number of cardinals were at the meeting. So was Bartholomew I, </B></div> <div> <B>.  spiritual leader of all Orthodox Christians. So were a dozen Jewish </B></div> <div> <B>.   rabbis, including some from Israel. So were 30 Muslim imams from Iran, </B></div> <div> <B>.  Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan. So were dozens of ministers </B></div> <div> <B>.  representing Baptists, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, </B></div> <div> <B>.   Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Disciples of Christ, Mennonites, </B></div> <div> <B>.  Quakers, Moravians, The Salvation Army and the World Council of </B></div> <div> <B>.  Churches. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  So were dozens of monks, gurus and others representing Hindus, </B></div> <div> <B>.   Buddhists, Sikhs and Zoroastrians and native African religions. They </B></div> <div> <B>.  ignored the personal and political risk of attending such a </B></div> <div> <B>.  high-profile gathering. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.   They convened and talked and prayed. They unanimously agreed to </B></div> <div> <B>.  condemn "every recourse to violence and war in the name of God or </B></div> <div> <B>.  religion." They also said, "No religious goal can possibly justify </B></div> <div> <B>.   the use of violence by man against man." And that "Whoever uses </B></div> <div> <B>.  religion to foment violence contradicts religion's deepest and truest </B></div> <div> <B>.  inspiration." They called their statement the Assisi Decalogue for </B></div> <div> <B>.   Peace. It consists of 10 mutual commitments to work for peace and </B></div> <div> <B>.  justice in the world, including this one: </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  "We commit ourselves to stand at the side of those who suffer poverty </B></div> <div> <B>.   and abandonment, speaking out for those who have no voice, and to </B></div> <div> <B>.  working effectively to change these situations." </B></div> <div> <B>.  On March 4, the Pope sent a copy of the Decalogue to all of the </B></div> <div> <B>.  world's heads of state. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  Maybe you missed the story. It didn't even make the newspapers the </B></div> <div> <B>.  next day, hidden inside or not. There was a lot of other news that day. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  Seven American soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. Israeli troops </B></div> <div> <B>.   killed 17 people in the West Bank. Mike Tyson got a license to box. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  What if leaders of the world's major religions got together one </B></div> <div> <B>.  and denounced all religious violence---and no one cared? </B></div> <div> . </div> <div> . <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>  (David Waters is a columnist who writes about religion for the Memphis,          </B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I><B>.   Tennessee Commercial Appeal and appears in syndication.</B></I><I><B>) </B></I></div> <div> .</div> <div> . </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" >.  </FONT><U> </U><B><U>Decalogue of Assisi for Peace</U></B><U> </U></div> <div> . </div> <div> <B>.  1. We commit ourselves to proclaiming our firm conviction that </B></div> <div> <B>. violence and terrorism are incompatible with the authentic spirit of </B></div> <div> <B>. religion, and, as we condemn every recourse to violence and war                      </B></div> <div> <B>. in the name of God or of religion, we commit ourselves to doing everything        </B></div> <div> <B>    possible to eliminate the root causes of terrorism. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.   2. We commit ourselves to educating people to mutual respect and </B></div> <div> <B>. esteem, in order to help bring about a peaceful and fraternal coexistence </B></div> <div> <B>. between people of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.   3. We commit ourselves to fostering the culture of dialogue, so that </B></div> <div> <B>. there will be an increase of understanding and mutual trust between </B></div> <div> <B>. individuals and among peoples, for these are the premise of authentic </B></div> <div> <B>. peace. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  4. We commit ourselves to defending the right of everyone to live a </B></div> <div> <B>. decent life in accordance with their own cultural identity, and to form </B></div> <div> <B>. freely a family of his own. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  5. We commit ourselves to frank and patient dialogue, refusing to </B></div> <div> <B>. consider our differences as an insurmountable barrier, but recognizing </B></div> <div> <B>. instead that to encounter the diversity of others can become an opportunity </B></div> <div> <B>. for greater reciprocal understanding. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  6. We commit ourselves to forgiving one another for past and present </B></div> <div> <B>. errors and prejudices, and to supporting one another in a common effort both </B></div> <div> <B>. to overcome selfishness and arrogance, hatred and violence, and to learn </B></div> <div> <B>. from the past that peace without justice is no true peace. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  7. We commit ourselves to taking the side of the poor and the </B></div> <div> <B>. helpless, to speaking out for those who have no voice and to working </B></div> <div> <B>. effectively to change these situations, out of the conviction that no </B></div> <div> <B>. one can be happy alone. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  8. We commit ourselves to taking up the cry of those who refuse to be </B></div> <div> <B>. resigned to violence and evil, and we are desire to make every effort </B></div> <div> <B>. possible to offer the men and women of our time real hope for justice </B></div> <div> <B>. and peace. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.  9. We commit ourselves to encouraging all efforts to promote </B></div> <div> <B>. friendship between peoples, for we are  convinced that, in the absence </B></div> <div> <B>. of solidarity and understanding between peoples, technological </B></div> <div> <B>. progress exposes the world to a growing risk of destruction and death. </B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>.   10. We commit ourselves to urging leaders of nations to make every </B></div> <div> <B>. effort to create and consolidate, on the national and international </B></div> <div> <B>. levels, a world of solidarity and peace based on justice. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>2 OPEN LETTER TO US SECRETARY OF STATE, GENERAL COLIN POWELL</B></div> <div> <I><B>from Members of English-Speaking Christian Communities in the Holy Land</B></I></div> <bR> <div> U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell</div> <div> U.S. State Department</div> <div> 2202 C Street NW</div> <div> Washington DC 20520</div> <bR> <div> Dear Mr. Secretary,</div> <bR> <div> “... No one can remain indifferent to the injustice of which the Palestinian people have been victims for more than fifty years.  No one can contest the right of the Israeli people to live in security.  But neither can anyone forget the innocent victims who on both sides fall day after day under the blows of violence.  Weapons and bloody attacks will never be the right means for making a political statement to the other side. Nor is the logic of the law of retaliation capable any longer of leading to paths of peace.”</div> <div> John Paul II  (January 10, 2002)</div> <bR> <div> We, the undersigned, have experienced and can attest to the truth of these words of Pope John Paul II. We are members of several English-speaking Christian communities in the Holy Land who have been living in Israel and in the Occupied Territories.   Our length of residence ranges from six months to twenty years. We represent a number of English-speaking nationalities, predominantly American but also many others, and a wide variety of backgrounds and professions.  We include students and professors, parents and clergy, US government/ USAID personnel, heads/personnel of American and other non-governmental aid agencies, international diplomats, officials working for UN agencies and health and education professionals.  </div> <bR> <div> We are writing to you out of a deep concern and urgency.  The violent and horrible events in this land have escalated in recent weeks.  America is deeply involved in this conflict both as a broker of the peace process and as a supplier of weapons.  The increased violence has underscored the failure of successive American administrations to implement defined policies for the resolution of this conflict.</div> <bR> <div> Twenty-five years have passed since President Sadat visited Jerusalem and opened the way to the Camp David peace process.  Camp David was eventually succeeded by the Oslo Accords, then the Wye River Agreement, and more recently by the Mitchell and Tenet reports.  None of these agreements have been implemented.  A generation of Israeli and Palestinian youth has grown up observing the lack of political will of the United States government to implement our defined policies for the Middle East. Moderates on both sides of this conflict have been marginalized and discredited by the failure to bring about a just and lasting peace. Both the Israeli creation of “facts on the ground”, and the terror attacks against innocent civilians, have succeeded in delaying the timeframe and in presenting further obstacles to the search for a just and lasting peace.  </div> <bR> <div> The US government has accepted such negative developments with apparent equanimity.  It has capitulated to the demands and excesses of the extremists and radicals on both sides who have no interest in peace and reconciliation. To date, it has failed to address the major cause of the problem - the oppressive and illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The legitimate human and civil rights of the Palestinian people and their right to their own national homeland have been denied - rights that most peoples of the earth enjoy and take for granted. Palestinians daily face the expropriation of their land and the unrelenting construction on this land of Israeli settlements and settlement roads. Over the last 18 months ordinary Palestinians have also suffered under the Israeli 'closures' and military siege, which have cut them off from their places of employment, study, basic health-care and families. </div> <bR> <div> During this period, our Christian communities have seen the horrific effects of the work of suicide-bombers and other militants on the people and cities of Israel, and some have narrowly escaped injury in such incidents. Some among us, however, can also testify to having personally eye-witnessed a wide range of violations of Palestinian basic human rights and personal freedoms by the Israeli authorities, including: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">house demolitions with families made homeless; uprooting of ancient olive and citrus groves on which multiple families are dependent for their livelihoods; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">families cowering in terror as US-manufactured missiles shower down indiscriminately on civilian areas from US-manufactured Apache helicopters and F-16 bombers, or from Israeli tanks; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">shelling of buildings right beside foreign diplomatic and UN offices in Ramallah and Gaza, recklessly endangering their international and other staff; indiscriminate shootings by IDF soldiers at checkpoints of civilians, including children, women, the elderly and the disabled; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">as well as firing of tear gas at such people crossing the checkpoints on foot by young, seemingly bored or frightened IDF recruits; severe harassment and physical abuse of Palestinians of all ages at such checkpoints; inappropriate handling of young Arab women at these locations; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">regular obstruction of teachers and students trying to reach schools and universities; harassment and obstruction of ambulances trying to carry emergency cases to hospital and blocking of UNRWA and other humanitarian relief operations.  </div> <bR> <div> Similar incidents of this kind have been widely reported on by almost all the main Israeli, Palestinian and international human rights and humanitarian organizations.  </div> <bR> <div> All the members of our Christian communities unequivocally condemn and reject terrorism and violence as a means of advancing the political cause of the Palestinians, and fully recognize the right of the Israeli people to live in peace and security in their own state. Our experience here also helps us understand why, in their desperation, some young Palestinians see no other options available to them and nothing for them to live for. </div> <bR> <div> The US Administration has focused predominantly on the admittedly horrific and unacceptable violence of the Palestinian militants against Israelis but it has given insufficient attention both to the causes of Palestinian militancy and terror, and the daily terror and war that Israel is inflicting with impunity on the largely civilian Palestinian population. This has, not surprisingly, led to the emergence of a strong sense of moral outrage on the part of the majority of Arabs and Muslims worldwide. It has also generated a major questioning among millions of people of conscience internationally of the credibility, impartiality and moral authority of the US government and its policies. This in turn has contributed significantly to the hostility felt by many people internationally towards the US, its government and its citizens.</div> <bR> <div> There is an urgent need for the resolution of this conflict.  There is a solution possible, but it is neither a military one, nor a terrorist one. The parameters of the solution have been clearly delineated and the vision spelled out by you yourself, Mr. Secretary, in Louisville, and by President Bush at the UN. They are expressed in US-sponsored Security Council Resolution 1397, a very welcome initiative indeed; and also in the proposals recently set forth by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and, most tantalizingly of all, in the Taba talks that ended in January last year, which brought the two sides to the brink of an historic breakthrough on most of the highly complex and deeply entrenched issues dividing the two sides. </div> <bR> <div> It is no longer appropriate to discuss proposals about interim solutions or arrangements.  These interim policies have been the framework under which Israel has extended and expanded its illegal presence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  The US government has been a proponent of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Now is the time for the US government to operate within the rubric of the United Nations and to finalize a settlement to this conflict in accordance with Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397.  This is a period in history that requires clear policy definition, firm political will, and consistency in action by the US government. The US government needs to display a type of “tough love” that links funding assistance with policy decisions that express its concern for all the peoples of this land.</div> <bR> <div> We welcome General Zinni to Jerusalem and recognize the very severe obstacles he faces. We express the fervent hope that he will continue to receive the firm political backing, and strong, balanced mandate he needs from the top levels of his Administration in order to broker a just and lasting peace. It is the consensus of the undersigned members of our Christian communities that the only way to achieve success will be a firm, even-handed approach exerting equal pressure on both parties to halt the violence and provocation. </div> <bR> <div> The presence of international observers is also crucial for achieving this halt to violence and facilitating the return to negotiations. Necessary also is a simultaneous move to develop the political dimension, through the implementation of the Mitchell Report and the resumption of final status negotiations. To demand that President Arafat deliver a unilateral cease-fire while the closures remain firmly in place and Israeli military offensives and provocation continue, cannot and will not succeed. </div> <bR> <div> In the interests of the Israeli people who are suffering so much from the conflict, the United States must also persuade the Israeli government to play its part, by implementing parallel measures to lift the military and economic siege and by progressing toward finalizing negotiations. Consistency of will to move beyond the rhetoric of US policy and to implement its stated goals will restore the credibility to the peace process and to the role the US government seeks to play as the honest broker of the peace process.</div> <bR> <div> As people of faith, committed to the struggle for peace, justice and reconciliation, we are convinced that greed and arrogance, violence and death, will not have the final word. We have a deep love for this Land and for all of its people. Our experience here has taught us to make our own this simple insight from John Paul II: <I>One against the other, neither Israelis nor Palestinians can win the war. But together they can win the peace. </I> We hope and pray that all sides in this present conflict come to the same recognition.</div> <bR> <div> …</div> <div> <B>Members of English-Speaking Christian Communities in the Holy Land</B></div> <div> <B>25 March 2002</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Encl: Signatories to the Open Letter</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>     </B></div> <div> <B><U>English speaking Catholic Community of Jerusalem</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rev. Donald J. Moore, S.J., acting pastor, professor of theology</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. Charles H. Miller, R.C. priest, administrator</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. Robert Fortrin, Jerusalem, R.C. Priest, administrator</B></div> <div> <B>Niamh Gallagher, student</B></div> <div> <B>Maeve Gallagher, student</B></div> <div> <B>Teresena Gallagher, Lecturer</B></div> <div> <B>Sr. Mary K. Milne, O.S.U., Journalist</B></div> <div> <B>Evie McNally, student</B></div> <div> <B>Carolina Aznar, Jerusalem, graduate student</B></div> <div> <B>Kathleen Pierson, Bethany, recreation director</B></div> <div> <B>Michael Humpheys, Lt. Colonel, Australian Army</B></div> <div> <B>Jillian Kearns, Lawyer, Australia</B></div> <div> <B>Tom McNally, East Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Denis Gallagher, Development consultant to USAID</B></div> <div> <B>Marie Andre Mitchell, R.C. sister</B></div> <div> <B>Daragh McNally, student</B></div> <div> <B>Isolde Moylan, diplomat, Ramallah</B></div> <div> <B>Maureen McElhattan, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Andrea Rogers, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Donald J. Rogers, administrator</B></div> <div> <B>David Burrell, C.S.C., priest, professor</B></div> <div> <B>Sr. Susan Sheehan, D.C., administrator</B></div> <div> <B>Sr. Norma More, D.C., therapist for handicapped children</B></div> <div> <B>Dennis Hamm, S.J., professor of scripture</B></div> <div> <B>Tom Fitzalan-Howard, British Defense Attache</B></div> <div> <B>Jo Fitzalan-Howard, Interior designer</B></div> <div> <B>Tom Neu, East Jerusalem,</B></div> <div> <B>Patricia Neu, planning and evaluation manager</B></div> <div> <B>Debbie Santalese, formerly East Jerusalem, office manager</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Lutheran Church of the Redeemer English-speaking Congregation, Jerusalem</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Rev. Susan P. Thomas, Pastor, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. Michael P. Thomas, Pastor, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer,</B></div> <div> <B>Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Christopher Doyle, Presbyterian Church USA missionary, Bethlehem</B></div> <div> <B>Hala Doyle, Presbyterian Church USA missionary, Bethlehem</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. David Selzer, Episcopal priest</B></div> <div> <B>Ann E. Miller, RN, nurse practitioner</B></div> <div> <B>Mark Frey, Christian Peacemaker Team, peacemaker</B></div> <div> <B>Peter Holland, OXFAM-Quebec</B></div> <div> <B>Kate Moynihan, Roman Catholic, working for a US NGO</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. Andrew Bush, Minister with the United Bible Society, Bir Zeit, West</B></div> <div> <B>Bank</B></div> <div> <B>Karen M. Bush, midwife, Red Crescent Hospital, Ramallah</B></div> <div> <B>Bethany G. Bush, student, age 15, The Friends' Boys School, Ramallah</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. Marthame Sanders, Presbyterian mission worker, Zababdeh, Palestine</B></div> <div> <B>Ms. Elizabeth Sanders, Presbyterian mission worker, Zababdeh, Palestine</B></div> <div> <B>Bob May, United Methodist missionary, Bethlehem</B></div> <div> <B>Nancy Dinsmore, Development Officer, Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. Christine Caton, Christian Peacemaker Team, Hebron, Presbyterian</B></div> <div> <B>minister</B></div> <div> <B>Bret Davis, human rights worker</B></div> <div> <B>Rebekah Miles, student</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. Mary Lawrence, United Methodist minister, Christian Peacemaker Team</B></div> <div> <B>LeAnne Clausen, human rights worker, Christian Peacemaker Team</B></div> <div> <B>Chris George, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Karin Boyadgian, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Alain Epp Weaver, Director, Christian Development Agency</B></div> <div> <B>Sonia Weaver, Co-Director, Christian Development Agency</B></div> <div> <B>Heather Britt, International development and aid worker</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. Susan P. Wilder, St. Andrew's Scots' Memorial Church, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Shane McNally, volunteer</B></div> <div> <B>Tony Boyadgian, Tour guide in the Holy Land</B></div> <div> <B>Kathleen Kern, human rights activist</B></div> <div> <B>The Rev. Mary Jensen, journalist, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Karin Hallin, recently a student in Jerusalem, now in Sweden</B></div> <div> <B>Seth Thomas, student, Jerusalem</B></div> <div> <B>Elaine Zoughbi, Bethlehem</B></div> <div> <B>Zoughbi Zoughbi, Wi'am Center for Reconciliation, Bethlehem</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>St. Andrew's Scottish Church, Jerusalem</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rizek Abusharr, YMCA</B></div> <div> <B>Gang Tai-Yum, Director of Joy House Kindergarten</B></div> <div> <B>Alice Alouohem, housewife</B></div> <div> <B>Margarita Claesson, eye surgeon</B></div> <div> <B>John Brownridan, retired</B></div> <div> <B>Yvonne Grogev, student</B></div> <div> <B>Glenn Witmer, professor</B></div> <div> <B>Joyce Wilson, minister</B></div> <div> <B>Ann V. Staal, teacher</B></div> <div> <B>Thomas H. Staal, diplomat</B></div> <div> <B>Sara J. Bailey, editor</B></div> <div> <B>Len Wilson, administrator YMCA</B></div> <div> <B>Magda Zaher, CPA</B></div> <div> <B>Joan Musgrave, Scottish Church</B></div> <div> <B>Chi Chang-Yim, Joy House Kindergarten</B></div> <div> <B>Catriona Lalhlan, church volunteer</B></div> <div> <B>Clarence Musgrave, Minister, Scottish Church</B></div> <div> <B>Kay Munayer, sales manageress</B></div> <div> <B>Sophie Sarikas, retired</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Bethlehem University</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Br. Cyril Litecky, administrator, educator</B></div> <div> <B>Br. David Scarpa, educator</B></div> <div> <B>Br. Joseph Loewenstein, religious educator</B></div> <div> <B>Br. Mark Boyle, teacher</B></div> <div> <B>Br. Neil Kieffe, educator</B></div> <div> <B>Br. Dominic Smith, educator</B></div> <div> <B>Br. Myron Collins, educator</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jerusalem</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Thomas Fitzpatrick, S.J., Director</B></div> <div> <B>Agnelo Vaz, S.J., administrator</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>St. George's College, Jerusalem</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>E. Ross Jones, Dean, priest</B></div> <div> <B>Gwin Jones, lecturer</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Notre Dame de Sion</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Maureen Murphy, teacher</B></div> <div> <B>Carina Arnold, nurse</B></div> <div> <B>Benigna Hwang, religious </B></div> <div> <B>Coran Hedley, teacher</B></div> <div> <B>Gertrude Nabuurs, teacher, administrator</B></div> <div> <B>Ellen Knox, religious </B></div> <div> <B>Irailde Maria Ferreira, social worker</B></div> <div> <B>Jane Taylor, Writer</B></div> <div> <B>Peter Dorfield, R.C. priest</B></div> <div> <B>Ellse Heinrich, housewife</B></div> <div> <B>Sylvia Marchant, secretary</B></div> <div> <B>Rita Kammermayer, teacher</B></div> <div> <B>Vicky Vargas Saenz, religious </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>The following have sent by email their support of the letter:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Dr. James R. Kelly, Professor of Sociology, Fordham University, NY</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. Jack Podsiadlo, SJ, priest and school administrator, Baltimore, MD</B></div> <div> <B>Cathie and Lenny Sclafani, teachers and church workers, Flushing, NY</B></div> <div> <B>Dr. Astrid O'Brien, prof of Philosophy, Fordham University, NY</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. William McCurdy, SJ, Jesuit priest and administrator, Rochester, NY</B></div> <div> <B>Raymond Helmick, SJ, senior associate Conflict Analysis Center, Washington DC </B></div> <div> <B>Rev. John Dear, SJ, writer and peace activist, NYC</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. Francis Gillespie, SJ, parish priest and pastor</B></div> <div> <B>Rev. Michael Lynch, SJ, social councelor, NYC</B></div> <div> <B>Sr. Mary Angela Perez, RSM, religious administrator, Guam, Pacific Islands</B></div> <div> <B>Francis McCormick, U.S. Foreign Service (ret)</B></div> <div> <B>Dr. Julia Specher-McLaughlin, child psychiatrist, Red Hook, NY</B></div> <div> <B>Chris McLoughlin, sales representative, Red Hook, NY</B></div> <div> <B>Sharon Herbert, archeologist (U of Michigan), Albright Institute</B></div> <div> <B>Jose Vicente Niclos, teacher of Spanish Hebrew U, </B></div> <div> <B>Janet Williams, retired health professional, MA, USA</B></div> <div> <B>Dr. Maria Khoury, education consultant, Taybeh-Ramallah, </B></div> <div> <B>Fr Labib KobTi, Arab American Community, San Francisco, </B></div> <div> <B>Fr Kevin McCaffrey, OP, librarian St Stephan's Priory, Jerus, </B></div> <div> <B>Eileen Hren, Palestinian Human Ridhts Monitorin Group, administrator, East Jerus</B></div> <div> <B>Anthony Axe, OP, prof of archeology Ecole B, `93-97, Prior Blackfriars in G.B., </B></div> <div> <B>Henrietta Wiley, Albright Institute, grad student</B></div> <div> <B>Joseph C. Donnelly, KHS, NY, </B></div> <div> <B>Justin Taylor, SM, Catholic priest and writer</B></div> <div> <B>Fr Rick Van de Water, parish priest Jifna</B></div> <div> <B>Eduardo Nigore, Valencia Spain, Health professional</B></div> <div> <B>Joseph F. Lynch, retired CIA officer</B></div> <div> <B>Christopher Frechette, SJ, grad student, Harvard U</B></div> <div> <B>Dr. Yamada Shoh, Sendai, Japan, archeologist out of Harvard</B></div> <div> <B>Fr J. Carlos Coupeau, SJ, Gregorian University, Rome</B></div> <div> <B>James Schryver, archeologist</B></div> <div> <B>Maureen McCormack,nurse, Bronx, USA</B></div> <div> <B>Dr. Miguel Perez Fernandez, U of Grenada (Spain) </B></div> <div> <B>Dr. Josep Ribera, U of Barcelona </B></div> <div> <B>Prof. Julio Trebolle, former Director of Spanish Institute for Biblical and Archeological Studies, Jerusalem, </B></div> <div> <B>Prof Pablo Torijano. Facultad de Filologia,Universidad de Complutense de Madrid,</B></div> <div> <B>Sam Bahour, Palestinian-American businessman in Al-Bireh.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> . <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993333" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>***************************************</U></B></FONT></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>3 STATEMENT FROM RABBIS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ISRAEL</B></div> <bR> <div> Dear Friends and Supporters,</div> <div> We know that many of you have been asking for some guidance from RHR as to</div> <div> how to understand the current crisis. We have decided to send out the</div> <div> following statement in response to your requests.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Statement on Crisis in Israel by Rabbis for Human Rights Israel and endorsed</B></div> <div> <B>by Rabbis for Human Rights North America</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Im ein ani li, mi li?</B></div> <div> <B>If I am not for myself, who will be for me?</B></div> <bR> <div> We in Israel are living in fear and pain. Every day creates a new drama of</div> <div> loss, as Palestinian suicide bombers enter our buses, our hotels, our</div> <div> restaurants, our supermarkets, our homes. Israelis should not and cannot</div> <div> live under constant threat in their own country.</div> <bR> <div> As human rights activists, we want to reiterate that the killing of innocent</div> <div> civilians is the most extreme violation of human rights. We are outraged at</div> <div> the Passover massacre of Israelis in Netanya and the other murderous attacks</div> <div> on Israelis by Palestinian terrorists that have taken place over recent</div> <div> weeks and months. We ask human rights organizations and people of good will</div> <div> around the world to join us in our utter condemnation of these attacks on</div> <div> innocent civilians. We call upon our fellow Jews to stand with the people of</div> <div> Israel at this time, empathizing with those families who have been decimated</div> <div> by Palestinian terrorism and with those families who have sent their sons,</div> <div> husbands, and fathers to combat it. We ask that they concern themselves with</div> <div> the body of Israel, as well as its soul.</div> <bR> <div> <B>U'che'she'ani l'atzmi, ma ani?</B></div> <div> <B>If I am only for myself, what am I?</B></div> <bR> <div> Standing with Israel requires concern for her moral, as well as her physical</div> <div> well being. We cannot let our moral humanity be compromised, no matter how</div> <div> threatened we are. The need to defend ourselves is both real and necessary.</div> <div> However, we in Israel must never use the lowest common denominator as a</div> <div> yardstick to measure our behavior or justify our actions. In order to</div> <div> maintain our self-respect as Jews, we must preserve our moral dignity,</div> <div> without which our fight for protection from terror would be diminished.</div> <bR> <div> We are told: "Justice, justice, you shall pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20). Why</div> <div> is the word justice said twice? Because, according to our tradition, one is</div> <div> to pursue a just cause by just means. In defending ourselves, we must always</div> <div> hold on to the prophetic vision of decency and humanity. The survival of the</div> <div> Jewish people will be determined not only by its physical acumen, but also,</div> <div> by its moral steadfastness.</div> <bR> <div> We remain deeply committed to seeking reconciliation with our Palestinian</div> <div> neighbors, and believe that a just peace can and must be pursued.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Im lo achshav, eimatai?</B></div> <div> <B>If not now, when?</B></div> <bR> <div> We of Rabbis for Human Rights feel compelled to speak out, along with other</div> <div> Israeli human rights organizations, to call on our government to cease</div> <div> violations of Palestinian human rights, even in times of war. We are aware</div> <div> that many soldiers are taking personal risks in order to avoid civilian</div> <div> casualties. Yet we are also aware that human rights violations are taking</div> <div> place. Some acts are the aberrant behavior of individuals, but others are a</div> <div> matter of official policy. While the limitations placed on human rights</div> <div> workers by Israeli security forces limit our ability to provide our usual</div> <div> standards of documentation, we are aware of or have good reason to believe</div> <div> that the human rights violations and forms of collective punishment include:</div> <bR> <div> <B>- denial of access to medical care for the injured, the seriously ill, and</B></div> <div> <B>women in labor</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>- demolition of homes</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>- disruption of the supply of water, food and medicines from large portions</B></div> <div> <B>of the civilian population.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>- looting and wanton destruction of property</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>- torture of detainees</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>- shooting and, in some cases, killing innocent civilians and medical</B></div> <div> <B>workers (sometimes simply for violating a 24 hour curfew)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As members of Rabbis for Human Rights:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We call upon our government to give clear instructions to the army that</B></div> <div> <B>these sorts of actions will not be tolerated, no matter how extreme the</B></div> <div> <B>situation in which our soldiers find themselves.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We call upon our government to end the limitations placed upon the press and</B></div> <div> <B>to cease attacks on Palestinian human rights groups.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We call upon these very same Palestinian human rights groups to condemn</B></div> <div> <B>suicide bombings, and the continual murderous attacks on Israeli</B></div> <div> <B>civilians -- without qualification. We call upon Palestinian Christian and</B></div> <div> <B>Moslem clergy to decry such actions from their mosques and churches.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We welcome a joint Palestinian-Israeli declaration condemning violent</B></div> <div> <B>actions and human rights violations on all sides.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We call upon all people of conscience to condemn, in the clearest language</B></div> <div> <B>possible, the anti-Semitic attacks carried out against Jews and their</B></div> <div> <B>institutions outside of Israel's borders.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We rededicate ourselves to continuing to work and pray for a better future.</B></div> <div> <B>Our tears cannot become so bitter that we are blinded to the Jewish passion</B></div> <div> <B>for peace, as articulated at the end of our sacred mourning prayer, the</B></div> <div> <B>Kaddish: "God who makes peace in the heavens will bring peace upon us and</B></div> <div> <B>all of Israel." We face Jerusalem three times daily and pray for peace -- a</B></div> <div> <B>peace for all who live here: Jews, Christians and Moslems; Israelis and</B></div> <div> <B>Palestinians.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We urge all peoples, their governments and their respective leaders to work</B></div> <div> <B>diligently to achieve that peace</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> For more information contact:</div> <div> Rabbi Arik Asherman                     Or Rabbi Brian Walt</div> <div> Rabbis for Human Rights Israel     Rabbis for Human Rights North America</div> <div> 2 Yitzhack Elhanan St                    4101 Freeland Ave</div> <div> Jerusalem, Israel 92141                  Philadelphia, PA. 19128</div> <div> Phone 972-2-563-7731                    Phone: 215 508-5560</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>info@rhr.israel.net</U></B></FONT><B>      </B>                 <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>RHR_northameric@yahoo.com</U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>******************************************</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"Precious Stones"</B></div> <div> <B>4 Statement on the Middle East Crisis</B></div> <div> <B>From the United Methodist Church Council of Bishops</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"O Jerusalem, you suffering, helpless city, with no one to comfort you, I will rebuild your foundations with precious stones." Isaiah 54:11 (Today's English Version)</B></div> <div> The crisis in Israel and Palestine has reached a level requiring urgent action. Violence, whether caused by military action or suicide bombers, has escalated to a shocking degree, and is taking the lives of many innocent people and threatens to engulf the region in a wider war. We express our condolences to the families and friends of victims of the ongoing violence and we pray ceaselessly for a prompt and just resolution of the crisis. The precious stones of the Holy Land speak to us and we hear their cry!</div> <div> Our recent delegation to Palestine and Israel heard the voices of terrified people, the precious living stones, both Israelis and Palestinians who seek to go about their daily lives in peace within safe and secure borders. We declare our deep respect, affection, and love for both Israelis and Palestinians. We affirm and admire the many people and organizations on all sides working for peace and nonviolent conflict resolution and reconciliation in the most difficult of circumstances.</div> <div> Our delegation met with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders and senior Israeli government and Palestinian Authority officials. Palestinians and Israelis are caught in a cycle of revenge and violence that must be broken; repeatedly our delegation heard requests from both sides for outside intervention to break the deadlock.</div> <div> We note with alarm that the Church of the Nativity remains under siege in Bethlehem and we pray fervently for a peaceful resolution at this holy site, so important to Christians throughout the world.</div> <div> We are concerned for the present plight and future viable presence of Christians in the Holy Land. Christian leaders asked us not to forget and abandon them in this hour of need and to speak and act on their behalf as sisters and brothers in Christ. We hereby pledge ourselves to do so. We also speak in support of the ministry of our United Methodist missionaries in the Holy Land, Sandra Olewine, Alex and Brenda Awad, Bob May, and Janet Lahr Lewis.</div> <div> Therefore, we, the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church:</div> <div> --call for an immediate cease-fire in Israel and Palestine. The Council offers our good offices and tangible support to bring this violence to an end;</div> <div> --deplore the disproportionate use of force on the part of the Israeli government. When tanks and helicopters are used to attack civilian neighborhoods, when homes are destroyed, when land is confiscated and civilians are harassed, injured and killed, the cause of peace is harmed;</div> <div> --ask for an immediate end to suicide bombing and call on President Yasser Arafat to do all that he can to end these criminal and inhuman acts, which injure and kill Israeli citizens and create fear throughout Israel;</div> <div> --request Israel immediately withdraw from all invaded and occupied Palestinian territory, cease its military incursions, stop the building and expansion of settlements, address the right of return for Palestinian refugees, halt its destruction of the infrastructure of Palestinian civil society, end restrictions on movement and provision of humanitarian aid relief into the Palestinian territories;</div> <div> --request the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations to work together for peace in Israel and Palestine;</div> <div> --call on the United States to give efforts to seek peace in the Middle East the highest priority and to act in a fair and impartial manner;</div> <div> --commend Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the recent Arab Summit for putting forward a plan for peace with Israel;</div> <div> --call for the establishment of an independent, viable Palestine state as soon as possible and for the release of promised U.S. aid to that state;</div> <div> --reaffirm the right of the peoples of Palestine and Israel to live within independent nations which have safe and secure borders.</div> <div> Furthermore, the Council of Bishops:</div> <div> --asks everyone to pray constantly for peace in the Middle East.</div> <div> --recommends that annual conferences and general agencies send delegations to the Middle East in support of our missionaries and to express our solidarity with our Christian sisters and brothers in the Holy Land and with all peace loving peoples in the Middle East.</div> <div> --requests local churches establish a relationship with mosques and synagogues for the purpose of dialogue and understanding.</div> <div> --asks United Methodists in all lands to contact their national leaders and press them to work for peace in the Middle East.</div> <div> --encourages local churches to celebrate Peace with Justice Sunday on May 26 by lighting two candles, one for Palestine and one for Israel.</div> <div> All of this to the end that the Holy Land becomes a place where:</div> <div> <I><B>"Love and faithfulness meet together, where righteousness and peace kiss each other." (Psalm 85:10) </B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>******************************************</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>******************************************</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>