Official Communication from The Most Reverend Gary Beaver to President George W. Bush

In a letter sent to President George W. Bush, from Archbishop Gary Beaver of The Interdenominational Church of the Holy Lands, asks for the following issues to be taken into consideration by the US and UK governments.

We recognise the considerable time and focus that you personally, along with Prime Minister Tony Blair and other governments and peace organisations have given to Israeli-Arab peacemaking.

As you are aware, Christians of every denomination around the world have followed with great interest and concern the reports of the ongoing discussions and official visits relating to Jerusalem and what is suggested concerning its final status. We cannot escape the fact that Jerusalem is unique in its shared sacredness to Christians, Jews and Muslims, and has for centuries been recognised as such.

The Interdenominational Church of the Holy Lands, a representative of the Independent Catholic denomination, share its concern about Jerusalem and its planned status which extends far beyond our physical connections with the Jerusalem churches, as we must all recognise the profound significance of the Holy City for the whole of humankind, especially for the Abrahamic family, as well as its centrality in peacemaking between Israel, the Palestinians and other Arab states.

We therefore urge the following steps in order to achieve a sovereign and independent Palestine living alongside a secure Israel recognised by and at peace with her neighbours:

• The withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from all occupied areas in accordance with 1967 borders and a complete halt to settlement building, both new or expanded, to be followed by a process of phasing out settlements altogether
• The immediate removal of any separation wall / security fence in compliance with the ruling of the International Court of Justice wherever the wall violates West Bank land
• The introduction of an international peacekeeping force under the command of the United Nations into the Occupied Territories charged with maintaining security so that both sides may be free from further attacks
• Humanitarian Aid program led by the United Nations to provide relief to the suffering
• The immediate resumption of negotiations involving Israel and the Palestinian Authority under the umbrella of the United Nations, European Union (we urge the withdrawal to be part of an overall resolution of the conflict).
• That negotiations be based on United Nations resolutions 242 and 338 that results in a viable and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital as well as the capital of Israel, and assures the right of return for Palestinian refugees
• The unconditional recognition of the state of Palestine to be implemented if peace is to prevail in the Middle East.

The Interdenominational Church of the Holy Lands campaign to promote the principle of sharing Jerusalem between the two peoples and three religions is based on our steadfast interdenominational commitment to an equitable solution for Jerusalem that respects the human and political rights of Israelis and Palestinians as well as the three religious communities. Our interdenominational interest not only extends to the living communities of believers, but also to the holy sites.

We appeal to you and the negotiators to accord Jerusalem a special statute for its governance with international guarantees to ensure its implementation. In November 1994, the twelve Patriarchs and Bishops of Jerusalem wrote, "It is necessary to accord Jerusalem a special statute which will allow Jerusalem not to be victimised by laws imposed as a result of hostilities or wars and which will allow Jerusalem to be an open city which transcends local, regional or world political troubles."

Let us join in mourning with Palestinian Christians and Muslims and of Israeli Jews and pray for their healing and the reconciliation of the Abrahamic family. Our prayers are with all that seek to forge a fair and just policy for the two peoples and three faiths who share a common religious heritage in the land we hold as holy.

Yours sincerely,
Gary

The Most Reverend Gary Beaver
Archbishop - Primatial See
Interdenominational Church of the Holy Lands
An Independent Catholic Fellowship
www.interdenominational.net