Reports 1995-1998 Edited by Dwain C. Epps

Statement on current situation in Palestine

Issued on 26 September 1996.

The deep frustration of the Palestinian people in the face of new occupations of land, confiscations of property, destruction of homes, restrictions of movement and economic disaster is understandable. So is the long standing fear of the Israelis for their security. However, this new violence, whose victims have been overwhelmingly among unarmed civilian Palestinians, is unacceptable and poses grave dangers to the region as a whole.

The State of Israel must withdraw immediately all its armed forces from the Palestinian Autonomous Territory. Their presence is in violation of the Oslo Accords. The Palestine National Authority has responsibility under the Accords for maintaining law and order in the region over which it governs, and must be free to do so with a minimum of force, and with respect for its people.

There are those on both sides who believe that the Middle East peace process, which raised such hopes around the world, is dead. We do not accept this judgement. But for the peace process to be revived, both sides must hold firmly to the obligations they have undertaken, and to the timetable established for implementing the terms of their agreement. At the same time, governments in and beyond the region must assume their full responsibilities now, before the hope of peace and the promise of justice in the Middle East is damaged beyond repair.

Statement on the Washington Accords on Middle East Peace

Issued by the General Secretary, 27 October 1998

The World Council of Churches welcomes the reestablishment of negotiations which resulted in the agreements signed on 23 October 1998 in Washington, D.C., between the State of Israel and the Palestine National Authority. This has come at a critical time in the stagnated Middle East peace process. In what amounted to a reaffirmation of the Declaration of Principles agreed in 1993, the parties have given new hope for a future shaped by reasoned dialogue rather than the inevitability of violence.

The WCC congratulates the parties directly involved, and their leaders, Chairman Yassir Arafat and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for the spirit of accommodation they have shown in achieving this result. It expresses its appreciation to the United States Government, and in particular to President Bill Clinton for their indefatigable efforts over months, and particularly in the last critical stages in helping develop an agreed framework to bring the parties back to the table and to agreement. It extends to His Majesty King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan sincere appreciation for the remarkable role he has played over the years in demonstrating that recourse to reason is the only true option for the sake of peace and security for all sides.

As was the case with the Oslo Accords, many crucial and contentious issues still remain to be settled after these new negotiations. Even to implement the terms of this partial agreement will require, as the principals themselves stated at the signing in Washington, D.C., the application of great civil courage and political skill. We urge the parties to hold firmly to their commitments, and the wider international community and the peoples of the world to spare no effort in encouraging all sides to abandon the use of aggressive force and to pursue peace through negotiation.

True and lasting peace can only be based on justice for all. We assure the peoples of Palestine and of Israel and their leaders that we shall accompany them with our fervent prayers that God will guide them along the path of peace which has been reopened, that they move now to full mutual recognition, and beyond that to the deep mutual respect which will be required for a final resolution of the many outstanding issues and a durable, just peace.

Jerusalem

Report on Jerusalem visit

Press release issued upon return of Dr. Konrad Raise to Geneva after his first official visit as General Secretary to member churches in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, 15-21 May 1995.

“President Arafat spoke of a complete impasse in the peace process, due to Israeli intransigence, and a sense of abandonment by the international community. We heard warnings from many on the Palestinian side that, unless the peace process is brought back on track, a general uprising and possibly uncontrollable violence will be the result”.

Dr Raiser and his delegation made their visit against a history of concern for the region by the WCC, which dates back to its foundation in 1948. The WCC has repeatedly affirmed its conviction that the mutual recognition of the Israeli and Palestinian people on the basis of equality is the only guarantee for peace and security in the region. It has further affirmed that the rights to self-determination of the Israeli and Palestinian people are mutually interdependent. This policy was repeated last by the WCC Central Committee in March 1990 in the context of a Call to Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land.

Through its member churches, for well over forty years, the WCC has ministered to the needs of the people of the region, especially the displaced and the uprooted, seeking justice and promoting reconciliation.

In September 1993 the WCC Executive Committee “warmly” welcomed the signing of an accord by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization although, at the same time, it cautioned that the “breakthrough” did not yet ensure peace nor guarantee justice. Full, speedy implementation of those accords, it said, was indispensable.

The aim of Dr Raiser's visit was to visit member churches and hear assessments by religious and political leaders of the current situation. As a result, Dr Raiser and his delegation make the following observations:

1. Memorandum of Their Beatitudes, the Patriarchs and of the Heads of Christian Communities in Jerusalem. This historic joint statement, signed 14 November 1994 and concerning the status of Jerusalem, should be affirmed and supported. The statement said, “(Jerusalem) cannot belong exclusively to one people or to only one religion”. It added that Jerusalem requires a “special judicial and political statute which reflects the universal importance and significance of the city”. The statement concluded that experience showed any status for Jerusalem as an “open city” would need international guarantees.

The team heard of a number of plans by churches and other religious organizations in the region to hold discussions on the special character of Jerusalem.

2. Land Confiscations and Building Rights. The delegation heard numerous complaints from Palestinians and Israeli human rights advocates about the Israeli policy of land confiscations. This was seen to be altering the situation on the ground ahead of negotiations, particularly in the case of Jerusalem where it was changing the city's unique demographic character and balance.

Other strong complaints centred on the refusal of the Israeli authorities to grant building permits to churches and others on Arab-owned land. The team heard stories of refusals being justified on the grounds of areas having been designated “green belt”. However, examples were given that following confiscations and once in Israeli hands the same areas were reclassified and building was allowed.

3. Closures. The delegation heard repeated stories of the difficulties and vast economic cost caused by the many closures made by the Israeli authorities of the crossing points into Jerusalem, the West Bank and especially Gaza. The denial of access to Jerusalem during Holy Week earlier this year was cited as one example of the humiliation and suffering caused by the closures. Equally important, the closures also make it impossible for many people to reach their places of work, clinics, schools and other social institutions.

4. The Concept of Peace. The team heard growing cynicism on all sides about the peace process. The delegation believes there is a danger now that a real understanding of what peace implies will be lost. The delegation is clear that peace should not be allowed to become an empty political slogan.

For the Israeli authorities, peace was equated with national security achieved, where necessary, through military means.

The delegation believes there is a need to reclaim the concept of peace from narrow definitions and to persuade those concerned that genuine security can only be based on the establishment of justice for all.

From the Palestinian side, many affirmations were made that “This is no peace!”

5. 
   International Dimension. Many Palestinians were deeply disappointed at what they saw as the international community's failure to meet political and economic promises, made after the Oslo Accords, to support the peace process.
   

Some of those most hopeful at the time of the signing of the Oslo Accords displayed serious disillusionment and even despair about the current situation.

Some senior and respected Palestinian figures considered that the negotiations had failed and the time had come for the Palestinian side to withdraw their negotiating team from Cairo and to challenge the international community to resume its responsibility to break the impasse.

6. Role of Christian Community. The delegation believes that the Christian witness around the world to those things which make for true peace in this particular region continues to be essential.

The Christian community in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza is unique in the historical role it has played in keeping lines of communication open between all communities. This must continue and, obviously, requires a continuing Christian presence in Jerusalem and the region. However, local Christian communities see themselves under both political and demographic threat.

During the last 30 years, the Christian population of the region has continuously declined in numbers. Today, Christians have been reduced to 2.3% of the population of the West Bank and Gaza. The percentage for Israel is 2.5%. Numbers have dwindled mainly through the emigration of those who find the current political and social situation unbearable.

Many of those Palestinian Christians who remain fear the day may arrive when the only Christians in Jerusalem are visiting pilgrims who will see just dead stones and museums; the “living stones” who worship, work and serve in the region will be no more.

Despite all the obstacles, the delegation nevertheless encountered those on all sides still deeply committed to the pursuit of a just peace. The delegation was encouraged to hear from Jewish religious leaders engaged in inter-faith dialogue. It was clear that on the Palestinian side, too, there was also a willingness for dialogue as well as an awareness that Israeli political rhetoric is not the whole picture.