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PATRIARCHS AND HEADS
OF LOCAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN
JERUSALEM
In
the Name of God, end the siege over
Gaza.
One
and a half million people imprisoned
and without proper food or medicine.
800,000 without electricity supply;
this is illegal collective
punishment, an immoral act in
violation of the basic human and
natural laws as well as
International Law. It cannot be
tolerated anymore. The siege over
Gaza should end now.
Voices from our people there say "We
feel the threat of being
exterminated by this siege"
In
the Name of God, we, the Heads of
Churches in Jerusalem and the Holy
Land urge the International
Community, President Bush and the
leaders of Israel, to put an end to
this suffering and call upon Israel
to activate Prime Minister Salam
Fayyad's initiative for Palestinian
responsibility control of the
boarders thus ensuring sufficient
normal flow of medicine, food, fuel
and goods to Gaza.
We
urge the International Community and
the European Union to act according
to their recent pleas. There is no
time to waste when Human life is
endangered.
We
urge the Palestinian Leadership to
unite in ending their differences
for the sake of their people in
Gaza. Put the differences aside and
deal with this crisis for the good
of all human beings demonstrating
that you care for your brothers and
sisters who have suffered enough
already. We would say to all
concerned parties; while ever you
persist in firing rockets into
Israel you encourage public opinion
outside this Land to feel there is a
justification for this siege.
We
urge Israel to act responsibly and
to immediately end this inhuman
siege. To deny children and
civilians their necessary basic
commodities are not the ways to
security but rather throw the region
into further and more dangerous
deteriorations. This siege will not
guarantee the end to rocket firing,
but will only increase the
bitterness and suffering and invite
more revenge, while the innocents
keep dying. True Peace building is
the only way to bring the desired
security.
We
pray for the day when the people of
Gaza will be free from Occupation,
from political differences, from
violence and from despair. We pray
for the Israelis and Palestinians to
respect human life and God's love
for every human life, and to take
all possible measures to end this
suffering. Only bold steps towards
just Peace and ending the violence
will protect the Human life and
dignity of both People.
With
the Prophet we keep praying and
hoping;
" A
bruised reed he will not break, and
a smoldering wick he will not snuff
out.
In faithfulness he will bring
forth justice;
he
will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on
earth.
In his law the islands will
put their hope"
(Isaiah 42:3-4)
Heads of Churches in Jerusalem and
the Holy Land
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