CMEP Urges Congress to Support U.S. Efforts to Achieve Immediate Cease-Fire

CMEP Urges Congress to Support U.S. Efforts to Achieve Immediate Cease-Fire
Urgent Humanitarian Measures and Renewed Political Process Necessary for Durable Peace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Schumacher Cohen, Legislative Director, julie@cmep.org, (c) 917-655-4273
[Washington, DC, January 6, 2009] Churches for Middle East Peace sent the following message to all House and Senate offices yesterday afternoon.

The new year has begun with an escalating crisis in Gaza and southern Israel that demonstrates the urgent need for robust U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian arena.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) deplores the tragic loss of life of those caught in the conflict and cares deeply about the welfare of both Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering and living in fear.

The events of recent days and weeks have wreaked havoc in the Holy Land and are dimming hopes for a continuation of the U.S. peace efforts begun in Annapolis over a year ago.
To end the current crisis and promote long-term peace and stability, CMEP believes that urgent efforts must be pursued to achieve an immediate cease-fire that ends the violence, addresses the humanitarian situation - including an opening of the border crossings that provides relief for the people of Gaza and meets Israel's security needs - and leads to concrete steps toward a two-state peace agreement.

CMEP urges Members of Congress to issue statements expressing support for the following U.S. efforts on behalf of Israel and the Palestinians and to safeguard American national security interests:

1. Prompt U.S. diplomatic action to help achieve an immediate cease-fire that ends the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas.

The ongoing indiscriminate Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel must be stopped and the massive Israeli military responses must be halted. Further spiraling violence will increase the toll of human suffering, strengthen extremists in Gaza and undermine Palestinian moderates as well as moderate voices throughout the region. It also risks broader Middle East destabilization and confrontation.

In a Dec. 29th letter to President Bush, the CMEP coalition representing 22 U.S. church bodies, called for prompt action to achieve a cease-fire to help "bring about an end to the violence." Jerusalem Church Leaders and Patriarchs, in a Dec. 30th statement, said that the continuation of the violence will "breed more hatred and hostility - and thus continued confrontation between the two peoples." On December 28th, Pope Benedict XVI said the international community must help Israelis and Palestinians find a way out of this "dead end" of conflict and violence and instead pursue the path of "dialogue and negotiation." He renewed this call yesterday stressing the, "profound desire to live in peace in the hearts of the great majority of the Israeli and Palestinian populations, which is once again endangered by the intense violence."

CMEP agrees with Sec. Rice's Jan. 2nd statement that it is necessary to find a "solution to Gaza that will be a sustainable one for the people of Gaza, for the people of Israel and for the people of the Palestinian territories…more broadly." We believe a cease-fire that ends the violence now, achieved with the leadership of the United States together with the international community and regional partners, must be the immediate first step.

2. Support for urgent measures to address the Gaza humanitarian situation, including an opening of the border crossings that provides relief for the people of Gaza and meets Israel's security needs.

The Red Cross has said that the current hostilities have created an "alarming" humanitarian situation in Gaza, coming on the heels of prolonged restrictions on Gaza that have led to shortages of fuel, electricity, water and medical supplies.

According to the World Food Program, "the population [in Gaza] is facing a food crisis" and Mercy Corps staff on the ground say this is "particularly difficult for the poor and those who rely on outside food assistance." World Vision reports that the conflict and violence has "completely overwhelmed the limited health services" in the Gaza Strip and "caused severe damage to the civilian infrastructure with many areas now without water, electricity or sanitation." According to CARE, this past weekend's escalation of violence has "halted many distributions of essential goods such as food and medical supplies".

CMEP encourages immediate attention to the Gaza humanitarian situation, by helping to reopen the border crossings and facilitate the movement of people and goods in a responsible manner that provides relief to the people of Gaza and meets Israel's security needs. Ending the border blockade and establishing real security at Gaza's borders must be part of a durable resolution of the current crisis that allows the families of Gaza and southern Israel to live in peace.

3. Renewal of a meaningful Israeli-Palestinian political process that can provide a durable peace.
Ultimately there is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Only a political resolution can provide a secure, stable and prosperous future for all the people of the Holy Land. While CMEP believes an immediate cease-fire must be urgently pursued, we recognize that a cease-fire alone is not a long-term solution.

The cease-fire must be accompanied by a political process that establishes a viable Palestinian state living in peace alongside a secure Israel. For any renewed political process to be meaningful, it must address all final status issues and include concrete steps that improve the situation on the ground as well as monitoring mechanisms to ensure that both parties are adhering to their obligations.

The Bush Administration should use its final weeks to help broker an immediate cease-fire agreement in Gaza and southern Israel and the incoming Obama Administration must give priority attention to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is a coalition of 22 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant church bodies and organizations that work together in pursuit of a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict where two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.

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Christian leaders urge Obama to make Israeli-Palestinian peace a priority

Broad Coalition of Christian Leaders Call on Obama
To Make Israeli-Palestinian Peace an Immediate Priority
________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Warren Clark/Carolyn Danckaert
Churches for Middle East Peace*
202-543-1222/301-335-6219

(Washington, DC, December 2, 2008) A broad spectrum of American Christian leaders - from Catholic and Orthodox traditions to mainline Protestant, Evangelical and historic African American churches and institutions - have appealed to President-elect Barack Obama to make Israeli- Palestinian peace an immediate priority during his first year in office.

In a December 1 letter sent to President-elect Obama as well as key members of his transition team and newly unveiled national security team, the leaders urged the incoming Obama Administration to "provide sustained, high-level diplomatic leadership toward the clear goal of a final status agreement" that will establish a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.

The letter notes that a durable peace agreement will help "strengthen U.S. security and improve stability and relationships through the Middle East." Without active U.S. engagement, the leaders warned that "political inertia and perpetuation of the unbearable status quo will make achievement of a two-state solution increasingly difficult." The leaders are also concerned about the "negative impact a further delay will have on the Christian community in the Holy Land, whose numbers continue to decline."

Sending the letter during Advent, a season of hope and expectation in the Christian calendar, the leaders expressed their belief that "Jerusalem - home to two peoples and three religions - has the potential to become a powerful symbol of hope and coexistence for people across the region and the world."

The leaders called on all Christians to support "vigorous U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure Middle East peace." The letter is being followed by a broad grassroots campaign aimed at mobilizing American Christian church members nationwide. The final letter signed by both Christian leaders and congregants will be delivered to President Obama during the time of inauguration.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said today, "This letter speaks to the need for the incoming Obama administration to help bring about a peace agreement quickly between Israelis and Palestinians. The opportunity for achieving a two- state solution is narrowing and must be seized now. Further delays will make reaching an agreement much harder and undermine long-term security for both Israelis and Palestinians."

Bishop Howard Hubbard, Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, "This conflict continues to undermine the social, economic and spiritual fabric of the lives of all persons in the region, including Christians who have lived in the Holy Land since the earliest days of our faith. With majorities of both Israelis and Palestinians supporting a durable peace, it is incumbent on their political leaders and our own to do everything possible to help bring about a just peace."

Dr. Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland Church said, "Our faith calls on us to work and pray for peace. It's not about taking one side over the other, it's about seeking justice for both parties. The President- elect can be assured that there are many American Christians who stand ready to support his efforts when it comes to seeking a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace."
The full text of the letter and list of signers is available at: http://www.cmep.org/ecumenical-letter.pdf

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* Churches for Middle East Peace is a coalition of 22 national church bodies, all of which are represented on the ecumenical letter, and is the point of contact for any press inquiries.

email: info@cmep.org
phone: 202-543-1222
web: http://www.cmep.org

Churches for Middle East Peace applauds Price-LaHood resolution urging peace between Israel and Palestinians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Warren Clark, 202-543-1222; warren@cmep.org
[Washington, DC- May 15, 2008] Churches for Middle East Peace commends Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Ray Lahood (R-IL), and the 50 other Members of the House who joined them, for sending a letter to President Bush yesterday urging efforts to end the crisis in southern Israel and Gaza and enable progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
The Price-Lahood letter comes amidst a new outbreak of Gaza-Israel violence and as the President begins a Middle East trip that provides an opportunity to move forward on the Annapolis process launched last November. The letter asserts that for "the peace process to be viable, solutions must be found to stabilize the Gaza situation, preserve the achievements made in peace talks, and maintain forward momentum." It suggests that such solutions must include international condemnation of the rocket attacks on southern Israel, an exploration of a potential ceasefire to stop the violence and an end to the border blockade that addresses Israel's security needs and provides humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.
Praising the Congressional letter, CMEP Executive Director, Warren Clark said: "The situation on the ground in the Holy Land needs to improve now if Israelis and Palestinians are going to have sufficient trust and confidence to do the hard work of peacemaking. We commend Reps. Price and Lahood and their 50 colleagues for offering bipartisan support for constructive solutions that can help provide a climate conducive to negotiations. We join them in urging the President to use his trip to re-energize the Annapolis process."
A May 9th CMEP letter to President Bush also highlights current obstacles to moving forward on the peace process, including the "death and suffering in Gaza and in southern Israel" and raises concerns regarding movement and access in the West Bank, which "undermines Palestinian leadership that seeks peace with Israel."
Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of 22 Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant national church bodies, has strongly supported the Price-Lahood letter together with a range of Jewish and Arab- American organizations, including Americans for Peace Now, the Arab American Institute, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, Israel Policy Forum and J Street.
For the full text of the Price-Lahood letter and a final list of signers or for the CMEP May 9th letter, please contact CMEP's Executive Director, Warren Clark, at 202-543-1222 or warren@cmep.org.
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Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is a coalition of 22 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant church bodies and organizations that work together in pursuit of a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict where two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.

email: info@cmep.org
phone: 202-543-1222 web: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ZM9vypu1SIiI15Nwnh2RH-ku6SZzOkMfZKJBm9Z1cHpchP7x7__i7FSt9MPp9HY6P8sIW2pC8Qw7MCWVVlaE_kYOv0DCXpUYvZifGcEddo8=