Episcopal Press and News
Churches for Middle East Peace expresses 'grave concern' over East Jerusalem eviction
Episcopal News Service. August 10, 2009 [081009-02]
ENS Staff
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) sent a letter August 7 to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that expressed concern over the Israeli government's eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and called for the their immediate return.
"This population substitution is clearly designed to continue efforts to expand Israeli presence and control over Palestinian areas of East Jerusalem. This action took place in the sensitive Sheikh Jarrah section of East Jerusalem close to the 1949 Armistice Line or Green Line. A home eviction order at this time and in this place is not a mere matter of local law enforcement, but raises significant international political issues," the coalition wrote. "It contradicts terms of the Road Map brokered by the United States and agreed to by both Israeli and Palestinian representatives to refrain from activities that could undermine progress towards a peace agreement. It also undercuts U.S. efforts to create an environment for starting talks for a comprehensive peace agreement and is therefore harmful to both the Palestinians and Israelis hopes for peace."
Despite U.S. pressure to freeze settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israeli police August 2 evicted two Palestinian families -- 50 people -- living in East Jerusalem, and Jewish families immediately moved in, according to news reports.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 Six-Day War; it is considered occupied territory under international law. The city is home to 200,000 Jews and 250,000 Arabs.
Begun in 1984, the Washington, D.C.-based CMEP is coalition of 22 public policy offices of national churches and agencies -- including the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Moravian Church in the United States -- that seeks to maintain an on-going dialogue with Congress, the president and the diplomatic community regarding issues concerning the Middle East.
CMEP advocates for separate Israeli and Palestinian states, with secure and recognized borders living side-by-side; and the sharing of an undivided Jerusalem.
Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who is listed as a signatory to the letter, independently sent a letter to Clinton August 5 expressing sorrow over the Israeli government's action.
The full text of the CMEP letter follows:
August 7, 2009
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
United States Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Madam Secretary,
We are writing to express our grave concern about the eviction of 50 Palestinians from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah section of East Jerusalem in the early morning hours of August 2, 2009. Witnesses reported that almost immediately Israeli settlers moved into the houses to replace the Palestinians.
The houses in question were built in the 1950s during the period of Jordanian administration of East Jerusalem. While the legal issues in the case are disputed, it is clear that carrying out this eviction order at this time is provocative. We thank you and deeply appreciate your statement of August 3 that "eviction of families…in East Jerusalem is not in keeping with Israeli obligations."
This population substitution is clearly designed to continue efforts to expand Israeli presence and control over Palestinian areas of East Jerusalem. This action took place in the sensitive Sheikh Jarrah section of East Jerusalem close to the 1949 Armistice Line or Green Line. A home eviction order at this time and in this place is not a mere matter of local law enforcement, but raises significant international political issues. It contradicts terms of the Road Map brokered by the United States and agreed to by both Israeli and Palestinian representatives to refrain from activities that could undermine progress towards a peace agreement. It also undercuts U.S. efforts to create an environment for starting talks for a comprehensive peace agreement and is therefore harmful to both the Palestinians and Israelis hopes for peace.
For these reasons a U.S. response that is limited to official protests is not sufficient. We urge the Department of State to insist on the immediate reversal of this ill-considered eviction and on the restoration of these houses to their former residents.
Yours most sincerely,
Very Rev. Thomas Cassidy, SCJ., President , Conference of Major Superiors of Men’s Institutes
Paula Clayton Dempsey, Minister for Partnership Relations , Alliance of Baptists
Marie Dennis, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Wes Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop , The Episcopal Church
Margaret Mary Kimmins, OSF, President, Franciscan Action Network
Antonios Kireopoulos Senior Program Director for Faith and Order and Interfaith Relations, National Council of Churches
Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach, Director, Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director and CEO, Church World Service
Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee
Gregory V. Palmer, President, United Methodist Council of Bishops
Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church, (USA)
John H. Thomas, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ
Joe Volk, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation
Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada
Jay A. Wittmeyer, Executive Director, Church of the Brethren, Global Mission Partners