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 is available on the LWF Web site at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2507.EN.html
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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140 member churches in 79 countries all over the world, representing over 70 million Christians. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)
[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]
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