"To: Canon Dr Clement Janda
General Secretary, All Africa Council of Churches (AACC)

Dear Canon Janda,

The members of the Southern African Churches in Ministry with Uprooted People at their annual meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa from April 9th -13th, 2002 discussed with alarm the continued and unprecedented violence between Israel and Palestinians.

Aware of the gravity of the situation and alarmed by the loss of lives in the region and destruction of property including sacred places, we call on our ecumenical family to urge the political leadership of both countries to settle their differences through political and peaceful negotiation.

The violence that has been generated by this conflict impacts all of us and fans the flames of tension between religious communities throughout the world. It is therefore a matter of grave concern to those of us who have special responsibility for identifying means to prevent the violent uprooting of persons and communities.

To this end we support the statement issued by the thirteen Patriarchs and Heads of Churches and Christian communities in Jerusalem calling on the Israeli government to "stop all kinds of destruction and death caused by the heavy Israeli weaponry". We also agree with their statement that " the way the present Israel government is dealing with the situation makes neither for security nor for a just peace ". We also join the local church leaders in Jerusalem in supporting their call on Palestinian people to put " an end to every kind of violent response", reiterating and highlighting once again that the way forward to lasting peace and security is through negotiation.

As stated in the World Council of Churches open letter to the churches and ecumenical partners of March 26, we uphold and defend the sanctity of all life , both Palestinian and Israeli, and cannot remain silent in the face of suffering, insecurity and fear of both peoples.

We, the members of the Southern African Churches in Ministry with Uprooted People, therefore call on the General Secretary of AACC to:

1. Send a statement of solidarity and prayerful support to the churches and people of Palestine, Jerusalem and MECC,

2. Join all the WCC member churches in declaring 2002, in the context of the Decade to Overcome Violence, a year "To End the Illegal Occupation of Palestine: Support a Just Peace in the Middle East."

3. Organize and facilitate throughout Africa a day of prayer for Middle East peace and reconciliation.

4. Support the creation of conditions in which the State of Israel and a Palestinian State are established to live together in peace and harmony, and to send prayerful messages to WCC and MECC supporting and encouraging their work to this end

5. Appeal to Israel by sending letters to the Embassy of Israel to comply fully with the demand of the United Nations Security Council that it withdraw immediately its forces from the Palestinian Territories and that it comply fully with international humanitarian principles and allow full and unimpeded access to humanitarian organizations and services

6. Support, encourage and accompany through sending prayerful letters to the American churches as they seek to hold their government accountable and lobby for genuine peace and reconciliation in the Middle East.

As people who have gone through a brutal liberation struggle in Southern Africa, we send you this urgent message and appeal to join all ecumenical partners to seek an end to this tragic situation condemning the terrifying loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives.

Yours in Christ

Bishop G Mpango
THE MODERATOR"

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