 
Churches call for end of Occupation at
service commemorating 40 year anniversary
4 June 2007
In a Jerusalem Ecumenical Service commemorating 40 years of occupation,
Church leaders called for an end to the occupation and for immediate
negotiations.
The service on Sunday June 3, 2007 was part of the International
Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel (ICAPPI), an initiative
of the World Council of Churches. Participants from community related
organisations and the Jerusalem Coalition for civil society, included
Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
In his address, Catholic Archbishop Fuad Twal spoke of insecurity
and stability and the absence of peace that has continued over
40 years of Occupation. He noted killings, house demolitions, prisoners
and other aspects of the sad situation that is the occupation,
where the “language of force and violence prevailed”.
The Christian community has also been affected. “Closed
borders have separated our faithful. Many have left the land, diminishing
the size of the Christian community.” The Church message
is “our land needs you”.
He noted that “Our refusal to of the use of violence is
in defence of dignity of all and according to the gospel and the
holy books.”
Archbishop Twal gave a clear message of “Enough” to
killing and violence, insecurity and instability; to the logic
of violence and domination of people against their will; and to
human rights violations. His message to decision-makers, who influence
this country, was that it is the time to change, to return rights
that have been deprived, so that Jerusalem may be the city of peace.
He said today’s message is one of hope, stating “Human
beings are capable of destruction, but also of leading the way
to real peace.” He also called for reconciliation so all
may live in dignity and security and so the present generation
to build a better future, a future where all rights are protected.
At the end, all 120 participants joined in launching
this ICAPPI week by saying in their closing prayer,
“Help us Lord to end Occupation – not by revenge,
not by hatred – but through seeing you in each other as Palestinians
and Israelis, Jews, Christians and Muslims, and to accept each
others humanity whilst mutually recognizing each others religious,
civil, political, and national rights, for Jesus’ sake. Amen”
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