Response to Middle East Crisis

Church World Service endeavors to allow the voices of its partners to be heard. Any non-CWS pieces below reflect the views of their authors, and not necessarily those of CWS. Thank you.

Letters and Statements

02/29/08 Urging action to resolve Gaza crisis, issued by the Churches for Middle East Peace
01/25/08 Call for Solidarity with Gaza People, issued by the Middle East Council of Churches
01/22/08 Statement on Gaza, from The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem and the Holy Land
12/19/07 2007 Christmas Message from the Jerusalem Heads of Churches
06/20/07 The Amman Call, Issued at WCC International Peace Conference "Churches together for Peace and Justice in the Middle East", Amman, Jordan, 18-20 June 2007
06/15/07 Statement on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank
from Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director and CEO of CWS
06/15/07 An urgent call from The Heads of Churches to the members of Fateh and Hamas
06/15/07 Statement by Bishop Dr. Munib Younan
04/22/07 Letter of condolence for Virginia Tech tragedy, from Arab Group for Christian – Muslim Dialogue and Forum for Development, Culture & Dialogue
04/03/07 Easter Message from the Patriarch and Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem
03/30/07 Easter Greeting from The Middle East Council of Churches
09/27/06 Letter encouraging President Bush to make peace in the Holy Land a priority (PDF file)
07/28/06 Letter expressing concern about escalation of conflict and high civilian casualties in Lebanon (PDF file)
07/21/06 Letter urging President Bush to work with world leaders to end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict (PDF file)
07/14/06 A Statement of the NCCUSA and CWS on the Current Violence in the Middle East
07/15/05 Statement on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, from Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director and CEO of CWS
02/23/05 MECC General Secretary's Statement on the Iran Earthquake
02/15/05 Letter of Condolence regarding Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, from the Middle East Council of Churches
01/21/05 Ecumenical Letter to President George W. Bush
11/24/04 Church World Service Findings from Middle East Delegation Inform U.S., International Relations on Solidarity, Unity
11/03 Ending the Occupation of Palestine by Israel - Resolution from CWS Board of Directors

News Releases

01/29/08 Update on the Gaza crisis
08/20/07 Lebanon's problems tied to Israeli-Palestinian conflict, says church leader
06/21/07 Church representatives from six continents launch forum for peace in Palestine/Israel
06/20/07 Church leaders focus on peace with justice for Palestine at Mideast gathering
06/18/07 CWS situation report: Gaza crisis
06/16/07 Church World Service calls for 'full, unfettered diplomatic support' in Gaza, West Bank crisis and presses for return of Sec. Rice to region
01/16/07 After peace, warmth comes to Lebanon during the cold winter
12/14/06 Israel-Palestine: As year nears end, a call for a "just peace on equal footings"
12/04/06 Lebanon Humanitarian Crisis: Action by Churches Together Situation Report
12/01/06 Director of MECC's relief arm in Lebanon discusses response following conflict
11/27/06 Water issues still plague Lebanese villages after conflict
11/22/06 CWS Executive Director calls for prayers for consolation, peace, and long-term solutions
11/22/06 Fear and anxiety rise again following political assassination
11/14/06 Unexploded bombs: The hidden fallout from conflict in Lebanon
11/09/06 Historic Black Churches Delegation to Holy Land Finds Pain and Hope
11/06/06 Material and Mental Healing Get Underway in Lebanon
09/14/06 Muslims and Christians find bonds during war in Lebanon
08/31/06 Crisis in Gaza deepens
08/24/06 A New Sun for Lebanon
08/21/06 Action by Churches Together reports on situation in Lebanon
08/08/06 Unexploded ordnance is a threat to returning Lebanese civilians and aid workers
08/08/06 Beirut-based ACT member converts development programs into emergency aid for hundreds of displaced families
08/04/06 Amid Food Shortages in Lebanon, the Middle East Council of Churches Is Helping Where It Can
08/03/06 Middle East Council of Churches Warns of Serious Water, Fuel, Power Shortages in Lebanon
08/03/06 Lebanese Have Fled Conflict in Large Numbers
08/02/06 Afraid for the Children of Lebanon
08/01/06 Church coalition staffer in Beirut warns of ‘underground disaster’
07/28/06 CWS Urges Safe Corridor for Humanitarian Response in Lebanon
07/19/06 CWS Situation Report: Middle East Crisis
07/14/06 Mideast Violence Futile, Say CWS and the NCC, Urging a Nonviolent Solution, Prayers and Advocacy
04/21/05 In Chicago, Interfaith Delegation from Middle East Promotes "Society of Equality and Plurality"
03/4/05 U.S. Churches Send Ecumenical Representatives to Israel, Palestine
01/21/05 Christian Leaders say Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become a threat to the U.S. and appeal to President Bush for peacemaking leadership
12/3/04 Partner Voices: An Interview with Ms. Suhaila Tarazi, Director of Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza

Resources

Steve Weaver's Middle East diary
Peaceful Ends Through Peaceful Means
A Christian witness for peace in Israel and Palestine - http://www.pepm.org/
Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel - http://eappi.org
Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace - http://www.theparentscircle.org/
A prayer for Palestinian peace
A Hymn for Peace - a hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, dedicated to the memory of Shaul Lahav, grandson of Helen and Paul Loeb, who was killed on November 18, 2003, on the road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Middle East Security and Development: A New Approach (PDF file, 331 kb)
This March 2004 statement by United States religious, humanitarian and development organizations focuses on U.S. government aid policies in the Middle East primarily as they touch upon issues of conflict, peace, security and development for Palestinians, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.