LOUISVILLE — Responding to the recent crisis in Gaza, the
National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus (NMEPC) has
issued a statement calling for an end to Israel’s
occupation of Palestine and its “siege” of Gaza residents.
The group’s statement urged the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) “to take active measures to address American
implication in and support of Israel’s occupation of
Palestine.”
The statement comes after tens of thousands of Gazans
overran the border into Egypt last month when Palestinian
militants blasted through concrete and metal walls at the
Rafah border crossing. Egyptian shops were drained of basic
goods that were in short supply on the Gaza Strip under an
Israeli blockade aimed at pressuring Palestinian militants
to halt rocket attacks.
“The recent events in the Gaza Strip are yet another proof
that the only solution to the ongoing conflict between
Israel and the Palestinians is for Israel to end its
illegal, violence-breeding occupation of Palestine,” the
NMEPC’s statement said.
While saying it disagrees with militant methodology
employed by some Palestinians, “and reject it categorically
as violent means,” the NMEPC said it joins with patriarchs
and heads of Christian churches in Jerusalem in condemning
the most recent blockade of Gaza by Israeli authorities.
“We call on the government of Israel to fulfill its duty
under international law, and its obligations according to
universal standards of human rights, by immediately lifting
its siege of the residents of Gaza,” the statement said.
The NMEPC brings together all PC(USA) Middle Eastern
Presbyterians, congregations, fellowships, Bible study
groups and mission personnel serving in the Middle East.
The full text of the Jan. 31 statement by the Executive
Committee of the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian
Caucus:
A call to end the siege of Gaza
The recent events in the Gaza Strip are yet another proof
that the only solution to the ongoing conflict between
Israel and the Palestinians is for Israel to end its
illegal, violence-breeding occupation of Palestine.
Israel’s punitive and military actions will not end rocket
firing or other violent reactions by Palestinians. Only
justice can lead to peace.
Israel’s continued occupation of Palestine and constant
domination of Palestinian civilians for three generations
is nothing short of criminal. The oppression of the 1.5
million residents of Gaza is particularly inhuman and
immoral. Israel in effect has imprisoned the entire Gaza
population since January 2006 within a concrete wall; and
then proceeded with air raids, military incursions, and
extrajudicial targeted assassinations. Israel further
imposed complete isolation on the Gaza strip since June
2007, and increased its tactics of blockade and
intimidation — interrupting electricity and blocking
supplies of medicine and fuel. This is deliberate cruel
collective punishment, and indiscriminate terrorization of
an entire population — young and old, women, men and
children. It is blatant savagery.
While we do not agree with militant methodology employed by
some Palestinians, and reject it categorically as violent
means, we must condemn the Israeli occupation as the root
cause of the continued conflict. Israel’s willful
prolonging of its occupation of Palestinian Territories can
only be explained, not for reasons of security, but in
order that it continues to confiscate more Palestinian land
for the building of illegal settlements exclusively for its
Jewish citizens. In so doing, Israel is overtly creating
“facts on the ground” to prejudice the outcome of any
future negotiations with Palestinians. With such reckless
behavior, Israel is hurling the whole region into chaos.
We, the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus, join
the patriarchs and heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem
in condemning the most recent blockade of Gaza by Israeli
authorities. We call on the government of Israel to fulfill
its duty under international law, and its obligations
according to universal standards of human rights, by
immediately lifting its siege of the residents of Gaza. We
call on the citizens of Israel to cause their government to
end its criminal occupation of all Palestinian Territories.
We call on our own denomination, the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), as it has committed itself to following the call
of Christ in the task of peacemaking, to take active
measures to address American implication in and support of
Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
It is our hope and prayer that the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) will continue to be a faithful witness to the
Gospel of God’s love and a voice for just peace and
reconciliation in the Middle East.
