Jerusalem: Letter from church leaders on anniversary of the Nakba

Palestinians expelled from Galilee by Israel during the Nakba 1948 - Wiki Image

A Jerusalem Voice for Justice: an ecumenical witness for equality and a just peace in Palestine/Israel In these turbulent times.

May 14 commemorates the end of the British Mandate in 1948, a time when our people were driven out of their homes (the Nakba). Today, as they commemorate the 1967 occupation of Jerusalem, thousands of radical Israelis march through the city, sowing fear.

Many of our children and loved ones in this holy and blessed land are living in a state of turmoil, fear, and anxiety about an uncertain future. They are asking: Is constant war our fate, leaving in its wake unending bloodshed, pain, sorrow, and destruction?

As Christians, we are committed to the message of the Gospel. We have repeatedly emphasized that we reject war in all its forms. We reject armed conflict and consistently call for peaceful solutions, reason, and dialogue, which can spare our region further war, bloodshed, destruction, and sorrow.

We had hoped that the war that has erupted between the United States of America and Israel and Iran could be avoided. We continue to believe that agreements could be reached through negotiations and diplomatic channels. Yet today, we hear threats that the war will continue "until victory". We ask, what kind of victory death, destruction, desolation?

To those who promote war as the only way, we say: war is not the way. We reiterate our call for an end to the bloodshed and destruction. We reject war and threats of war, because we believe that war is an absolute evil, benefiting only warmongers. The losers are civilians and among them the most vulnerable. They pay a heavy price in blood for the sake of the economic and political interests of warmongers.

If we truly seek an end to war in the Middle East, we must all focus on the core issue: the plight of the Palestinian people, who have been suffering since 1948. After October 2023, the catastrophe they face has intensified in the midst of an ongoing war in Gaza, waged to wipe out Palestine and Palestinians. And the war has spread to the West Bank, Lebanon, and beyond. We remind those in this world who need reminding that our Holy Land yearns for equality, justice and peace. The peace we speak of is a peace that guarantees the freedom and dignity of every human being.

For us, humanity is indivisible. Every drop of innocent blood spilled is our blood, precious and unique. Humankind was created in the image and likeness of God. God seeks for each one of us life, security, peace.

We call upon the wise and the reasonable of this world to continue to work tirelessly for peace. Let us silence the language of threats, intimidation, and violence for the sake of our children, the next generation, whose future we are ravaging.

We must not remain silent. Our people are suffering. They are attacked daily by police, soldiers and settlers. They are targeted among all those bearing the brunt of the violence. Those wearing religious attire and religious symbols are not spared in the atmosphere of violence that dominates. Racism is justified within the logic of war. We must tirelessly reject this language of hate and war.

Jerusalem is a holy city. It is venerated by Muslims, Jews and Christians. It is also the center of Palestinian life, culture and society. It is a city in which different peoples, religions and communities encounter one another. The hatred and racism that reign threaten the city's identity and vocation. Jerusalem is called to be a city of peace, but today it is far from peace.

As Christians in this land, we fervently offer our prayers for this land, for its peace, and for every person suffering and oppressed within it. As Christians, we are called upon today, more than ever, to be a voice for every person who is suffering, oppressed, and tormented. We must be a voice for the voiceless.

This blessed land is our home. It is also a holy land of sacred sites, where Jesus was born, lived and taught, suffered and died, and rose from the dead. We are called to make his voice heard. Through us, he continues to teach equality, justice, peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

Signatories:

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah (emeritus)

Lutheran Bishop of the Holy Land Munib Younan (emeritus)

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Attallah Hanna

Mr. Yusef Daher Ms Sawsan Bitar Mr. Samuel Munayer

Ms. Dina Nasser Mr John Munayer Ms. Sandra Khoury

Rev. David Neuhaus SJ Rev Frans Bouwen MAfr Rev Firas Abdrabbo

Mr. Rafi Ghattas Rev Alessandro Barchi and other members