WCC NEWS: Israel - Palestine: Week of action for peace begins today

[WCC Media]

World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media at wcc-coe.org


For immediate release - 04/06/2008 08:43:02

IN JERUSALEM AND AROUND THE WORLD, A WEEK OF CHURCH ACTION FOR
MIDDLE EAST PEACE BEGINS 


Today in Jerusalem, at the launch of a worldwide week of action
for peace in Israel and Palestine, different churches have come
together for an ecumenical service (
http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/2008pdfs/ICCAPI__2008_Ecumenical_Service_HoC.pdf
)giving thanks for "every church and parish around the world that
is praying with us this day for peace". 

In dozens of countries, 4-10 June 2008, Protestant, Catholic and
Orthodox parishes will join them in praying for a land "much in
need of peace". They are using a prayer from the heads of
churches (
http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/2008pdfs/Jerusalem_prayer_for_ICAPPI_08_E.pdf
)in Jerusalem that asks for political leaders "courageous enough
to sign a treaty […] that puts an end to the occupation imposed
by one people on another, granting freedom to Palestinians,
giving security to Israelis and freeing us all from fear." 

Meanwhile, an array of wishes and prayers (
http://www.aeicenter.org/aei/sumud/PrayersForPeace.htm#MESSAGES
)is arriving in Bethlehem for use during the week. These signs of
support (
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/email-a-wish-or-prayer-fo.html
)have been sent from 16 countries so far including Cuba,
Bangladesh and New Zealand. Some will be read aloud at a ceremony
on June 8 in Bethlehem's Manger Square, where a 'Living Clock'
will commemorate the 60 years that Palestinians have lived
uprooted and as refugees.

Participants in the action week are urging national leaders to
play a more active role in promoting a just resolution of the
conflict. Churches are speaking to foreign ministries and
parliamentarians in places like Australia, Hungary, Scotland and
South Africa. In Norway the foreign minister and a Palestinian
church leader will address a multi-religious peace service. 

Raising church and public awareness about the Israel-Palestine
conflict is a major aspect of the week. A mission society in
Germany has invited 23 partner churches in ten countries to take
part, reaching out as far as Ghana and Japan. The Church of
Ceylon is working to educate its parishes. Young people in the
Philippines will debate and sing peace songs at a youth café.
Church groups in the Netherlands are sponsoring intercultural
concerts, inter-religious seminars and international
documentaries to air different points of view about the need for
peace. 

Participants tell the World Council of Churches, which is
convening the initiative, that they welcome the opportunity to
act together after so many years of growing concern at the course
of events. They stress that justice must be done for the sake of
both Palestinians and Israelis, a theme echoed in the week's
message (
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/icappi-2008/action-week-message.html
). 

Action week activities (
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/icappi-2008/action-week-events.html
)are reported so far in 23 countries, plus the Pax Christi
network and World Vision International. The initiative is known
as 'International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and
Israel, 4-10 June 2008 (
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/icappi-2008.html
)'. The Jerusalem prayer and message have been distributed to
parishes and individuals in up to 100 countries. Resources are
available in German, French and Spanish from the WCC, and Arabic,
Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian and Italian from national participants.


International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3627

WCC member churches in Israel/Palestine:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4746


Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media at wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva,
Switzerland.