Griswold Joins Church Leaders Pleading with Arafat and Sharon to End Violence

Episcopal News Service. June 25, 2001 [2001-168]

James Solheim

(ENS) Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold joined Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist church leaders in an urgent plea for an end to violence in the Middle East.

In an open letter released today, the church leaders wrote to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat for "continuing public statements and actions from both of you to end the bloodshed and urge you to act and speak in the spirit of reconciliation."

Ending the violence, the letter asserted, would mean no more "disproportional responses" from the Israelis, especially the use of attack helicopters and fighter jets, as well as no further destruction of Palestinian homes or restrictions on travel. "We further implore you to end the single most provocative behavior of all--settlement building and expansion," the church leaders said, asking the Israelis to also "contain provocative settler behavior."

Arafat's contribution to ending the violence would mean employing "the strongest measures within the confines of human rights, to contain whose who encourage and resort to terrorist actions such as suicide bombings and the use of mortars to attack civilians."

Acknowledging "the rage of the Palestinian people," the church leaders said they were "also aware that many Jews live in fear of these terror tactics as well as the inflammatory rhetoric that comes from some Arab sources. These heinous acts of violence are counter-productive to any hope for a just peace."

The letter pleaded for Arafat to "emulate other great leaders who used nonviolent action to bring about change," adding that "we know such leadership requires great courage and statesmanship and see in you the qualities necessary to succeed." The church leaders said that they were prepared to accompany those "who stand for an end to the Occupation but who also embrace the principle of non-violence."

Concluding that their plea to stop the violence is "but a cry to stop the suffering and end the siege of fear and anger that now grips both of your communities," the church leaders said that they were looking to Arafat and Sharon "to take courageous steps forward to negotiations that can promptly establish a sovereign Palestine free from Occupation and an Israel at peace and security with her neighbors."