Palestinian Christians are dying to LIVE with
dignity and freedom
This message, "A Call from Jerusalem to the World" is signed by Michel
Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Riad Abu El-Assal of the Diocese
of Jerusalem, The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East; and
Munib Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Jordan and the Holy Land.
Dear Bishops and Church Leaders,
Salaam and Grace to you from the city of our faith in the name of Our
Lord Jesus Christ.
We are writing to you as Palestinian Christian leaders concerned for the
dramatic situation of the Christians in the land of the Holy One. In
contrast to 10 years ago our community now represents less than 2 percent
of the population and continues to decrease at an alarming rate.
This is largely due to emigration. Many Palestinian Christians are leaving
as a result of the ongoing conflict.
We are a Christian community made up of Catholics, Greek Orthodox,
Oriental Orthodox, Episcopalians and Lutherans, bound together by a common
identity and have been witnessing together for the Risen Lord since the
first Pentecost. Despite tensions and historical differences
our community is unified in its identity and we enjoy close fraternal
ecumenical relations.
The Israeli illegal occupation has made it impossible for Christians,
indeed for the whole Palestinian people, of whom we are an integral part,
to live with dignity, freedom and security. Palestinian Christians like
all Palestinians want to live in peace and justice. We yearn for freedom
and life abundant.
In addition to the injustices of the occupation we must now contend with
the Separation Wall. The Wall splinters our community in many pieces and
makes it impossible to maintain normal family, economic and human
relations.
Families are separated and divided and for many there is no legal hope for
family reunification. Human rights violations and lack of freedom of
movement, association and expression is the daily lot of the Palestinian
Christians, indeed of all Palestinians.
There are positive signs but there is still a long way to go and much will
be lost if peace is further delayed. The international community and the
world church must insist that both parties, Palestinians and Israelis,
fulfill their obligations according to international legitimacy.
As Christian Churches we have always denounced the use of violence. We are
committed to a non-violent struggle for peace, justice and reconciliation.
We proclaim a vision that will allow peace and justice to embrace in a
spirit of reconciliation that rejects violence, occupation, domination and
extremism in favor of restructuring communities for an existence and
mutual well being.
We want security for Israel and we want freedom and justice for
Palestinians. Therefore we are still committed to a "two-state solution"
where Israel and Palestine will live side by side equally, justly and in
peace. We believe in Jerusalem as a city of Peace shared by Muslims, Jews
and Christians. We also believe that Jerusalem should serve as the Capital
for Palestine and Israel.
We are calling on both Israelis and Palestinians to see God in the other
and accept the humanity of the other and recognize each other's human,
civil, religious and political rights. Once we recognize our common
humanity and rights peace with justice becomes a reality.
We call upon you to:
1. Support community based education through Christian schools and
educational institutions.
2. Stop emigration of Christians through job creation.
3. Provide low cost housing. Housing is a social right not a luxury.
4. Strengthen Christian Social institutions. These organizations provide
needed services to all in Palestinian society regardless of religion,
gender or political affiliation.
We trust that you will join your hands with ours so that together we can
realize the dream for a just peace and reconciliation. A just peace will
guarantee the presence and witness of the Palestinian Christians who are
the Living Stones in His Land.
We believe that the churches can and must do more to recognize their duty
towards the Holy Land and act together to sensitize their governments,
their people and the international community. Our communities ask your
help so that justice will prevail and so that Palestinian Christians will
flourish in the Holy Land and be strengthened to carry out our mission in
the power of the Resurrection.
With St. Paul we affirm, "That if one member suffers all suffer with it.
If one member is honored all rejoice together with it" I Cor. 12:26.
In this Easter season we pray that the peace, power and joy of our Risen
Lord will remain with you always. Pray for us and pray and work for the
peace of Jerusalem. Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed!
(signed)
Michel Sabbah
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Riad Abu El-Assal
Diocese of Jerusalem
The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
Munib Younan
The Evangelical Lutheranan Church in Jordan and the Holy Land