US churches fear outcome of Bush Middle East policy Independent Catholic News 2004 WASHNINGTON - 16 April 2004 - 660 words

US church leaders have expressed disappointment and alarm at Wednesday's remarks by President Bush that seemingly reversed 35 years of long-standing US policy on Israeli and Palestinian negotiations for peace.

Speaking through Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a coalition of 19 national Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox church offices, the leaders criticized President Bush's unilateral prejudging of negotiations by his endorsement of Israel's large Jewish settlements in the West Bank and of Israel's wish to prevent any Palestinian refugees from ever being resettled within Israel.

Corinne Whitlatch, executive director of the coalition, said: "We had hoped that the Gaza withdrawal could be a first forward step toward peace." She said:

"The President's decision," said Fr Drew Christiansen, SJ, a member of CMEP's Leadership Council and an editor of the Jesuit magazine America, "makes US policy hostage to Prime Minister Sharon's expansionist goals. Legitimating West Bank settlements is a recipe for protracted conflict which will continue to impact adversely the dwindling Christian presence in the Holy Land."

Fr Christiansen asked the President to consider the consequences of his decision on Christians in the region, saying: "Mr Sharon has talked about his unilateral initiative delaying negotiations for another generation. But this is a generation in which, under the pressure of endless conflict, the endangered indigenous Christian population in the Holy Land could well disappear. I doubt this is an outcome that President Bush would like to see, but it is very likely one that he is setting in motion."

Other church leaders questioned whether the "war on terrorism" itself may have blinded President Bush to the possible outcomes of his actions on Israelis and Palestinians. Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, observed, "President Bush responded yesterday to a reporter that 'the best way to achieve peace is to fight terror.' I disagree. The way toward peace is to work for a just resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. That will lead to the end of the terror of suicide bombers and targeted assassinations.

Winkler continued: "Instead of telling Prime Minister Sharon that it's ok now to violate international law and United Nations resolutions, President Bush should be pressuring both sides to stem the violence and start talking again. President Bush has effectively told the world that what Israel has taken by force from the Palestinians is now acceptable. This is a road map to war."

Whitlatch reiterated the disappointment of the national church organizations in yesterday's developments. "The President's decision, contrary to the public, long-standing positions of many US Protestant and Orthodox churches and of the Catholic Church, is de facto a rejection of international law. He has clearly shown that the US is not as concerned for the rights of the Palestinian people as he is for the political goals of Prime Minister Sharon. How unfortunate for all the people of the Middle East!"

Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington-based program of the Alliance of Baptists, American Friends Service Committee, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Franciscan Mission Service, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Maryknoll Missioners, Mennonite Central Committee, National Council of Churches, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church (GBCS & GBGM) . For further information, see: http://www.cmep.org

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In a letter to President Bush, leaders of the Holy Land Christian Society accused Israel Tuesday of confiscating land from religious groups to make room for a barrier Israel is building into the West Bank. April 13, 2004, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a letter to President Bush, leaders of the Holy Land Christian Society accused Israel Tuesday of confiscating land from religious groups to make room for a barrier Israel is building into the West Bank.

Israel says the barrier, which eventually will stretch 425 miles, is needed to keep Palestinian terrorists out of Israel proper.

The Rev. Donald Rooney, a society director, and the Rev. John Podsiadlo, of the society's advisory board, asked Bush to take up the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his Washington visit. Sharon is to meet at the White House with Bush on Wednesday.

They said church property was being overrun by Israeli soldiers, and an orphanage playground and part of a facility for older people had been brought inside Israel's military zone.