The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(B011)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States adopt as its own the Statement from the Anglican Primates Meeting 11 April 1991, Newcastle, Ireland:

THE MIDDLE EAST

As Primates of the Anglican Communion we:

-- express gratitude to Almighty God for the ceasefire in the Gulf War and for the restoration of Kuwait

-- voice our sadness at the enormous loss of human life in the recent and continuing conflicts and extend our pastoral support to the families of those who have died on all sides of the conflict

-- condemn the massive assault upon the environment and the pollution of water, soil and air which will have incalculable consequences for future generations of people and for the natural ecology

-- call upon the international community to recognize and respond to the tragic suffering of displaced peoples, including Kurdish refugees, and to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories suffering inhumane containment, curfews and the continued denial of human rights

-- plead for consistency by the United Nations in the implementation of all resolutions with respect to the region as a whole and particularly Palestine/Israel

-- affirm the position expressed in 1988 by the bishops of the Anglican Communion in Lambeth Resolution 24 on Palestine/Israel.

This Conference, saddened by the present suffering in the West Bank and Gaza Strip:

1. Affirms the importance of the Church in the exercise of its prophetic role by standing on the side of the oppressed in their struggle for justice, and by promoting justice, peace and reconciliation for all peoples in the region.
2. Affirms the existence of the state of Israel and its right to recognized and secure borders, as well as the civic and human rights of all those who live within its borders.
3. Affirms the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, including choice of their own representatives and the establishment of their own state.
4. Supports the convening of an international conference over Palestine/Israel under the auspices of the UN and based on all the UN resolutions in relation to this conflict, to which all parties of the conflict be invited.
5. Commits itself to continued prayer for Israelis and Palestinians, for Muslim, Jew and Christian, for the achievement of justice, peace and reconciliation for all.
   

We call upon the United Nations to assume the administration of the West Bank and Gaza Strip from the State of Israel, and to facilitate humane policies for the people of the Occupied Territories until there is a settlement of the Palestinian/Israel issue.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

In the resolve clause, delete the words "adopt as its own," and in place of the deletion add the words "urges each diocese to make its people aware of."

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #166)