Fra 13. til 20. marts besøgte en fælles delegation fra Det Mellemkirkelige Råd, Økumenisk Fællesråd og Folkekirkens Nødhjælp Israel og Palæstina. Delegationen er chokeret over den palæstinensiske befolknings humanitære situation, den forværrede situation i de israelsk-besatte områder og den onde cirkel af had og vold.
På den baggrund er der fredag udsendt følgende pressemeddelelse på engelsk:
Over 3 million Palestinians are confined in Gaza and on the West Bank without access to proper income and with strictly limited possibilities to develop their economy and trade their products.
Restrictions on movement within the Palestinian territories and with the outside world are having a devastating effect on the economy of Palestinians, 65 per cent of whom are now living under the poverty level of two US dollar per person per day. A threatening humanitarian disaster is unfolding.
The result of draconian measures of collective punishment and breaches of international humanitarian law is increasing frustration and hatred. Whether one speaks to Palestinians or Israelis the impression is one of mutual fear and mistrust, which feeds into an ever-increasing spiral of violence.
Violations of basic human rights and mutual killings are having destructive consequences for the possibilities of establishing peace and reconciliation. Still there is also a deep and widespread wish for peace and reconciliation.
These are some of the observations that were made by a church delegation appointed by The Council on International Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, the Ecumenical Council of Denmark, and the DanChurchAid.
The purpose of the visit was to support the local churches and Christians, and to obtain knowledge about the present situation. The delegation visited a number of churches, organisations and authorities in Jerusalem, Gaza and on the West Bank and spoke with both parties.
The delegation saw on the ground how Israels “matrix of control”, including continued growth of settlements and the infrastructure linked to this, the building of the “security barrier” – in places far into Palestinian territory – is thwarting the likelihood of the development of a viable Palestinian community and making the prospect of creating a viable Palestinian state along the State of Israel more and more improbable.
Not least in the Jerusalem area was this evident in a way that leaves less and less hope for a just solution of the Jerusalem issue that respects the presence there of two peoples and three religions.
In the West Bank and Gaza, for example Hebron and along the “security barrier”, it is difficult to see developments as other than creating segregation and forcing the Palestinian population to chose between two impossible alternatives: either they can live unseen and unnoticed behind the barrier, or they can leave the country.
The facts on the ground are that houses are demolished, farmers are separated from their land and people are deprived of freedom of movement and access to their basic needs, such as water, healthcare and schools.
The delegation met with church leaders, local parishes and church-related and human rights organisations. The churches in Israel-Palestine, of which the majority of the members are Palestinians, feel a growing pressure.
Christian presence, now below 2 per cent of the population, is threatened by the socio-economic and political developments in the region. Many Christians in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas simply do not see a way of surviving economically: unemployment is rampant and for young people a future in the country looks hopeless.
Growing religious fundamentalism is having a certain impact on society, but peaceful co-existence still prevails and Christian institutions that serve the population at large contribute to this.
The Christians are in need of many forms of international Christian solidarity, and the delegation urges Christians and churches to find ways of supporting the Christians in Israel-Palestine so that the living “stones” may continue to live in the country, and not only stones of the Christian past be left as museum.
Of serious concern is the religious and political impact that Christian Zionists from abroad are having in the country, causing real harm to the Christian population. Christian churches and international ecumenical and confessional organisations are asked to take up this issue in relation to churches supporting the attitude of Christian Zionism.
Amongst the Christians that are left there are many who express a strong sense of commitment and engagement in working for understanding amongst Jews, Christians and Moslems and working for a just peace by non-violent means.
It is essential that the situation of the Christians is not forgotten in the present conflict, and their efforts – along with other positive forces in civil society – be actively supported.
The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Israel and Palestine (EAPPI) is seen as one such positive contribution in support of such forces. There are presently 5 Danes serving in the EAPPI programme together with accompaniers from other countries.
From the observations of the delegation it is evident that the process of peacemaking has not reached the intended goals.
The continued Intifada is a consequence of the lacking ability of the parties to establish a just peace, but just as much a failure from the international community to intervene in a concerted manner in the conflict in accordance with UN resolutions and international humanitarian law.
The delegation feels that both parties and the international society must work urgently on finding a new formula and develop instruments that can guarantee both peoples an equal right to sovereignty and safety, and a model that will guarantee a just and lasting peace for the peoples of the region.
At the same time the international community must ensure proper monitoring and full implementation of agreements already made, such as the association agreement between EU and Israel.
From the Council on International Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Vestergade 8, 1456 Copenhagen K, Tel 33 11 44 88: Professor Paul Verner Skærved, chairman of the Council, Ms. Bodil Skjøtt. Rev. Villy Mølgaard, member of the Council, General Secretary, Rev. Ane Hjerrild.
From the Ecumenical Council of Denmark, Dag Hammarskjölds Alle 17, 3., 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Tel 35 43 29 43: Bishop Kresten Drejergaard, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark, Mr. Carsten Kolby Kristiansen, the same, General Secretary, Rev. Jan Kornholt, Baptist Church of Denmark, and General Secretary, Rev. Holger Lam.
From DanChurchAid, Nørregade 13, 1165 Copenhagen K, Tel 33 15 28 00: Ms. Laila Hørrby, member of the Council, Rev. Helle Christiansen, member of the Council, Mr. Hans Christian Beck-Jensen, member of the Board, and Middle East Programme Co-ordinator Uffe Gjerding.
