A statement of the Common Global Ministries Board of Directors Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio
The issue of access into and throughout Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Jerusalem is routinely problematic for the Palestinian community due to the burdensome requirements of permits; the presence of and treatment at checkpoints (both fixed and random); and the separation barrier.
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The issue of access into and throughout Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Jerusalem is routinely problematic for the Palestinian community due to the burdensome requirements of permits; the presence of and treatment at checkpoints (both fixed and random); and the separation barrier. Christian presence in Jerusalem traces its history back to the very beginning of Christianity in the life and witness of Jesus and of the apostles, the first missionaries. Global Ministries, through its constituent churches and their predecessors, have enjoyed missionary presence in Jerusalem since the early 19th century-the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) beginning in 1849 and the United Church of Christ beginning in 1821. On November 3, 2007, Israeli authorities at Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, denied one of our own missionaries, appointed to serve with the Palestinian Christian community in Jerusalem, access to return after being in the US. This incident acutely reminded us as a Board of the less commonly known reality of denial of access for the international community, including US citizens and foreign nationals of Palestinian origin. The US grants multi-entry, long-term visas to Israeli religious students and professionals; the US ought to expect reciprocity. We are deeply concerned about the impact of systematic restrictions on access and movement on the daily life and future prospects of Palestinian communities. We are concerned about the implications of these practices on the presence, integrity and witness of Christian Palestinians, and on international partners and pilgrims who wish to visit and share in common communion with their families, friends, and partners in faith. We are concerned about our own ability to share in mutual ministry with the Palestinian Christian community-just as we share in mutual ministry with Christians throughout the world-and hope that our own access will be facilitated. We fervently assert that the structures that deny access must be addressed urgently as a matter of primary concern in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. |
November 10, 2007