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Archbishop Kelly endorses calls for peace from Jerusalem church leaders


On the eve of the General Assembly of the United Nations, at which Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, will ask the UN Security Council to recognise Palestine as the 194th member state of the world body, Archbishop Patrick Kelly has endorsed the call from Jerusalem’s Heads of Churches for intensified prayers and diplomatic efforts for peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Archbishop Patrick Kelly’s statement in response to Jerusalem’s Heads of Churches’ message.

I have just received the statement issued by the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem as once more the reality which is the Holy Land demands attention as events unfold at the United Nations.

My frequent visits to the Holy Land and countless conversations convince me that each one of us must take every opportunity to endorse the principles set out in this statement. For many years I have recommended obedience to the psalm: “For the Peace of Jerusalem pray” as an essential prayer in any searching for that justice whose fruit is lasting peace for not only the Holy Land, but the whole Middle East and indeed the whole world. This moment demands such integrity in those with power that can touch the life of the Holy Land that they approach the issues of these days setting aside personal ambition and speak and act only resolved to further the well-being of the two peoples in the Holy Land, encompassing Jews, Christians and Muslims for all of whom fidelity to God inspires aspirations touching Jerusalem.

For the Peace of Jerusalem, Pray.

+Patrick A Kelly

Archbishop of Liverpool

Episcopal Member of the Holy Land Co-ordination

Statement by the Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem

Looking ahead to the upcoming General Assembly of the United Nations this September 2011 and the bid for Palestinian statehood, the Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem feel the need to intensify our prayers and diplomatic efforts for peace between Palestinians and Israelis, to consider this as the most appropriate time for such an opportunity, and thus wish to reiterate the following principles upon which we agree:

1. A two-state solution serves the cause of peace and justice.

2. Israelis and Palestinians must live each in their own independent states with peace and justice, respecting human rights according to international law.

3. Negotiations are the best way to resolve all outstanding problems between the two sides.

4. Palestinians and Israelis should exercise restraint, whatever the outcome of the vote at the United Nations.

5. Jerusalem is a Holy City to the followers of all three Abrahamic faiths, in which all people should be able to live in peace and tranquility, a city to be shared by the two peoples and the three faiths.

Thus, we call upon decision makers and people of good will, to do their utmost to achieve the long awaited justice, peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians so that the prophecy of Prophet David is lived again:

'Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.' (Ps. 85: 10)

13 September, 2011

† Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
† Patriarch Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarchate
† Patriarch Tarkom II Manoogian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate
Very Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
† Archbishop Anba Abraham, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
† Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate
† Archbishop Abune Mathias, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate
† Archbishop Joseph Jules Zreyi, Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
† Bishop Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem
† Bishop Mounib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Holy Land
† Bishop Pierre Melki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate

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