June 10, 2005

(Printed on Churches for Middle East letterhead)

The Honorable George W. Bush

The White House

Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President,

As leaders of U.S. Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches and agencies, we commend and encourage your commitment to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to realize the vision of two democratic states living side-by-side in peace and security. With your firm leadership and direct engagement with the parties, we believe that Israeli and Palestinian leaders can achieve a final permanent status agreement through negotiations. Our churches and organizations are jointly urging members of Congress to give you bipartisan support in pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian peace.

We are grateful for your strong statements at the press conference following your meeting with Palestinian President Abbas, for your readiness to provide funds directly to the Palestinian Authority and for your commitment to stand by Mr. Abbas as he reforms Palestinian institutions, works to revive the economy and confronts those who seek to achieve their goals by resorting to violence.  Both Mr. Abbas and Mr. Sharon face dangerous opposition to peacemaking from within and need your backing, and that of other international leaders, to make the difficult decisions that are necessary for the promise of the road map to be achieved. We encourage you to hold both peoples close to your heart, challenging and encouraging their leaders with an evenhanded firmness.

Your remarks about Israel’s obligation not to prejudice final status negotiations with regard to Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem restored hope that Jews, Christians and Muslims might encounter each other in peace in the Holy City. But hope for Jerusalem and for peace cannot be sustained when it is contradicted by what Palestinians see – the expansion of settlements, the construction of the barrier on West Bank land, the undisturbed outposts on hilltops – and what they experience – being humiliated at  checkpoints and prohibited from entering Jerusalem for prayer, business or family visits. 

Prime Minister Sharon’s decision to withdraw from Gaza is an important step toward ending the occupation.  We urge you to maintain the momentum by working with the Quartet partners to bring the parties to the negotiating table as soon as possible. As you said, changes to the 1949 Armistice lines must be mutually agreed to. Yet, day by day, actions are taken that create facts on the ground that will make agreement more difficult on borders, settlements and Jerusalem. For the sake of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, and for our own sake as well, this moment of opportunity for the widely shared goal of a two-state solution to the conflict must not be lost. 

Please extend our appreciative greetings to the First Lady for visiting the region and for meeting with Palestinian women. We pray that peacemakers may have courage and perseverance and that zealots may put aside their animosities and be still for the sake of Jerusalem’s peace and the future of all the children of the Holy Land.    

Sincerely,

 

Rev. Robert Edgar

General Secretary

National Council of Churches USA

Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk

Presbyterian Church, (USA)

Rev. John H. Thomas

General Minister and President

United Church of Christ

James Winkler

General Secretary

General Board of Church and Society

The United Methodist Church

The Rev. R. Randy Day
General Secretary
General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist Church

Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington-based program of the Alliance of Baptists, American Friends Service Committee, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Armenian Orthodox Church, Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Franciscan Friars OFM (English Speaking Conference, JPIC Council), Friends Committee on National Legislation, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Maryknoll Missioners, Mennonite Central Committee, National Council of Churches, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church (GBCS & GBGM) .  For further information, see www.cmep.org