World Lutherans welcome Quartet position on new settlements

In a statement issued last week, the Lutheran World Federation called new settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank an obstacle to progress toward a two-state solution. See a news release here and the full statement below.

ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 22, 2010
http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4487

LWF Executive Committee Welcomes Middle East Quartet Statement
10-101-LWI/JB

GENEVA (ELCA) -- The Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) welcomed the "clear and forceful language" used by representatives of the United Nations, the Russian Federation, the United States and the European Union --known as the Middle East Quartet -- in denouncing new settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

In a statement issued in Geneva, March 20, 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," according to a news release from Lutheran World Information (LWI).

The Quartet, meeting in Moscow last week, 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 release said.

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," LWI reported.

The Quartet expressed deep concern about continuing deterioration in Gaza, including the humanitarian and human rights situations of the civilian population, the release said.

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 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," according to LWI's report.

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 release said. The LWF remains committed to continuing those services, the executive committee stated.

The LWF Executive Committee 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."

The 13-member executive committee met in Geneva March 19-21. It oversees the functions of the LWF between meetings of the Council, and acts as the LWF Board of Trustees and Personnel Committee. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, is also LWF president and committee chair.

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The full text of the LWF Executive Committee statement is available at http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2507.EN.html on the Web.

LWF Executive Committee statement in response to 19 March 2010 statement by Middle East Quartet

20 March 2010

On the occasion of its meeting in Geneva, the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) warmly welcomes the statement issued on 19 March 2010 by the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, Russian Federation, United States and European Union) concerning the present status of the peace process in Israel-Palestine.

The LWF, with 140 member churches in 79 countries and representing approximately 70 million people, has long maintained its commitment to 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 fulfillment of this vision, as noted by the Quartet in its statement, is in the fundamental interests of both parties and essential for peace in the region and wider world.

The LWF especially welcomes the clear and forceful language with which the Quartet has denounced ongoing settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as a principal obstacle to progress towards these objectives. We concur with the call issued by the Quartet for a freeze on all Israeli settlement activity (including ‘natural growth’), for the dismantling of outposts erected since March 2001, and for the Israeli authorities to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem.

We strongly endorse the Quartet’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.

We urge the Quartet to follow these clear words with effective actions, to closely accompany the parties in the negotiation process, and to take expeditiously such additional steps as may be necessary to address the situation as it evolves.

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.

The LWF remains committed to continuing to provide essential humanitarian services to the people of Jerusalem and the West Bank, through the Augusta Victoria Hospital and its other programs. We further call 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.

The LWF Executive Committee asks the General Secretary to convey these concerns and sentiments to the members of the Quartet, to the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and to such others as he may consider appropriate.

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This statement can be found at the link:

http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2507.EN.html

The Quartet statement is at this link: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/sg2158.doc.htm

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