Friends in Chicago's 57th Street Meeting, Evanston, Lake Forest, and AFSC join Chicago-area religious groups in a significant communication to national leaders.

 

Chicago Religious Leaders & Groups Protest Israel's Declaration of Gaza as "hostile entity"

Nov 2007

 

To: President George W. Bush

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Members of United States Senate

Members of House of Representative

 

From: Religious Leaders and Organizations of Greater Chicago

 

We are a coalition of faith-based organizations, religious leaders, and religiously identified organizations and individuals.  We are Christians, Muslims and Jews from the Greater Chicago region.  We represent communities with deep spiritual and family ties to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and communities who are deeply concerned about the humanitarian crises stemming from Israel's 40-year long military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

 

We are calling on you, our country's leaders, to protest the Israeli government's decision of September 19, 2007, to declare Gaza a "hostile entity."

 

Israel claims that this designation gives it the freedom to cut electricity, fuel, and other basic necessities to the 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, half of whom are children and the majority of whom are impoverished.  Some 1.2 million Gazans already depend on international food handouts to survive.  Their situation has been made significantly worse by Israel's frequent prevention of vital supplies and services from entering Gaza.  Through this new declaration, the Israeli government appears to be attempting to justify and gain political support for policies that already amount to the collective punishment of a whole population.

 

Secretary Rice has stated that the U.S. "will not abandon the innocent Palestinians in Gaza, and indeed will make every effort to deal with their humanitarian needs."  How can this commitment be upheld if our government stands by silently while Israel moves to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza?  If the United States is genuinely interested in fostering peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the Israeli action cannot stand without rebuke.

 

The Israeli government justifies its policies as a way to pressure Gazans to turn against those who fire crude homemade rockets into Israel.  Indeed, Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli communities are illegal and must be condemned.  The firing of these Qassam rockets killed four Israelis in 2006-2007; at the same time Israeli missile strikes and military actions in civilian areas killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 147 children.  These illegal acts also deserve condemnation.

 

Israel's harsh strategy will only prejudice future negotiations to end the conflict, which needs unified and empowered Palestinian and Israeli leadership to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

 

Therefore, we urge you to take immediate action to:

 

Call on the Israeli government to immediately rescind its decision to designate Gaza as a "hostile entity."

 

Demand that Israel's government fulfill its obligation as an occupying power under international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the welfare of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, notably its obligation to ensure the supply of essential necessities such as electrical power and to allow the movement of people and goods.

 

Remaining silent in the face of growing impoverishment and threats against the people of Gaza implies our consent.  As people of faith and as Americans, we expect our government to support policies that foster peace and prosperity, not further violence and suffering in the Middle East.

 

Collection of signatures is in progress.  If you wish to add your name, please contact lpollack@afsc.org or call 312-427-2533 x26.

 

List of Signatories to Interfaith Letter

 

1.         The Rev. Dr. Larry L. Greenfield

            Executive Minister

            American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago

            Co-Convener, Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy

 

2.         The Rev. Cotton Fite, Ph.D.

            Priest Associate, St. Luke's Church, Evanston, IL

 

3.         Michael McConnell, Regional Director

            Great Lakes Region

            American Friends Service Committee

 

4.         Rev. Catiana McKay, Pastor

            United Church of Rogers Park

            Chair, Commission of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns

            Northern Illinois Conference, United Methodist Church, Chicago, IL

 

5.         Elizabeth Mertic, Member

            Lake Forest Friends Meeting

 

6.         Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid

            Chairman, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

 

7.         Pauline M. Coffman, Ed.D.

            Member, Middle East Task Force of Chicago Presbytery

            Oak Park, IL

 

8.         Joyce M. Cassel

            Principal, Chicago Mennonite Learning Center

 

9.         Newland F. Smith, 3rd

            Church Network for Education on Palestine,

            Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Peace and Justice Working Group

 

10.       Delbert M. Leppke

            Working Group on the Middle East

            Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Metro Chicago Synod

 

11.       Rev. Harold Vogelaar, Ph.D.

            Former Director: Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice

            The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

 

12.       Rev. Susan B.W. Johnson

            Hyde Park Union Church, Chicago, IL

 

13.       The Rev. Andrea C. White, Ph.D. Candidate

            The University of Chicago Divinity School

            Minister of Adult Religious Education

            The University of Chicago

            Rockefeller Memorial Chapel

 

 14.      The Rev. Rich Landers

            Hyde Park Union Church

            Chicago, IL

 

15.       Rev. Robert V. Thompson

            Lake Street Church of Evanston

            Evanston, IL

 

16.       The Rev. George V. Hudgins, III

            Pastor, Community Church of Wilmette

            Wilmette, IL

 

 17.       Rev. Dr. M.L. Codman-Wilson

            Sr. Pastor, Christ Community Church of Wheaton

 

 18.       Dieter R. Schulte

            Member, Working Group on the Middle East

            Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,  Metro Chicago Synod

 

 19.      Pam Edelmann Sall, Ebenezer Lutheran Church

            Middle East Working Group of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical             Lutheran Church in America

 

 20.      Rev. Phil Yetter, Pastor

            First Baptist Church of Berwyn, Berwyn, IL

 

 21.      Mary E. Anderson

            Church Women United

            Barrington, IL

 

 22.       Lynn Pollack

            Member, Jewish Voice for Peace

            Evanston, IL

 

 23.       Rev. Don Wagner

            Center for Middle Eastern Studies, North Park University

            Chicago, IL

 

24.       Rev. Paul G. Palmer

            Pastor Emeritus

            Community Presbyterian Church

            Mount Prospect, IL

 

 25.       Rev. Dr. Sid L. Mohn

 

26.       Martha Reese

            Member, First United Church of Oak Park (PCUSA/UCC),

            Middle East Task Force of Chicago    Presbytery

            River Forest, IL

 

27.       Rev. Carol McVetty

            Northshore Baptist Church, Chicago, IL

 

 28.       The Rev. Jeffrey Doane

            Pastor, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church

            Chicago, IL    

 

29.       Rev. Jean Marie Duran

            Living Lord Lutheran Church, ELCA

            Bartlett, IL

 

 30.      The Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer

            St. John's Episcopal Church

            Chicago, IL

 

 31.      Tom Cordaro

            Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace, Pax Christi Illinois

 

 32.       Edgar Hiestand

            Ecumenical/Interreligious Office

            North Illinois Conference United MethodistChurch

            Oak Park, IL

 

 33.      Rev Beth Freese Dammers

            Pastor, Presbyterian Church (USA)

            First United Church of Oak Park

            Oak Park, IL

 

 33.       Orlando Redekopp    

            Pastor, First Church of the Brethren

            Chicago, IL

 

34.       Bob Selby, Chair

            Ministry for Peace and Justice

            HOPE United Church of Christ        

            Naperville, IL

 

35.       Rev. Paul A. Hottinger

            Naperville, IL

 

36.       The Rev Alan L. Streyffeler

            Ordained clergyman of the United Methodist Church

            Naperville, IL

 

 37.      Joan Ehrenberg

            Unity Lutheran Church, Chicago and the ELCA Metro-Chicago Synod Working      

            Group on the Middle East

 

38.       Yali Amit

            Member, KAM Isaiah Israel Synagogue

 

 39.       Lynn Kendall

 

 40.      Rev. Said Ailabouni

            Barrington, IL

 

 41.      David W. Doudt

            Chaplain, Provena St. Joseph Hospital, Elgin, IL

 

 42.       Duane Mevis

            Wesley United Methodist Church

            Naperville, IL

 

 43.      Working Group on the Middle East

            Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Metro Chicago Synod

 

 44.      John Lengle and Donna Lengle

            Members, Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren

            Elgin, IL

 

 45.      Rev. Calvin S. Morris, Ph.D.

            Community Renewal Society

            Chicago, IL

 

 46.      Jennifer Bing-Canar

            National Director, Middle East Peacebuilding Program, AFSC

            Chicago, IL

 

  47.     Bernard F. Reilly, Clerk

            Peace and Social Concerns Committee

            Evanston Friends Meeting

 

  48.      Jesse Bacon

            Steering Committee Member - Jewish Voice for Peace - Chicago

            Chicago, IL

 

 50.      Judith McAtee

            Member, Western Springs Presbyterian Church

            Western Springs, IL

 

 51.       David Boris

             Board Member, North Suburban Peace Initiative

 

 52.      Rev. David Bebb Jones

            Convener of the Middle East Task Force of the Presbytery

 

 53.      Caren Levy-Van Slyke

            Member, Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine

 

 54.       Joy Reis, member, Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago

 

 55.      Rabbi Roy Furman

            Religious Studies Department

            DePaul University

            Chicago, IL

 

 56.      Rabbi Brant Rosen

            Evanston, IL

 

57.       Dr. Lauren Langman

            Member, Tikkun-Chicago

 

 58 .     Mary Sotir

            Member, St. Athanasius Peace and Justice Ministry

            Evanston, IL

 

 59.      Rev. Daniel Dale

            Wellington United Church of Christ,

            Chicago, IL

 

 60.      Rebekah Levin

            Member, Secular Jewish Community and School of Oak Park

            Oak Park, IL

 

 61.      Rev. Paul S. Allen

            Pastor Emeritus, Winnetka Congregational Church

            Winnetka, IL

 

 62.      Thomas L. Garlitz

            Director

            Catholic Diocese of Joliet Peace and Social Justice Ministry

 

 63.      Rev. Dr. Jane Fisler Hoffman,

            IL Conference, United Church of Christ

 

 64.      Reverend Christopher L. Pierson

            Director of Connectional Ministries

            Northern Illinois Conference of the United MethodistChurch

            Elgin, IL

 

 65.      Mary Knightwright

            United Methodist Deacon

            Aurora, IL

 

66.       The Rev Stephen H. Swanson

            Pastor St. Paul Lutheran Church

            Villa Park, IL

 

67.       Archpriest Nicholas Dahdal,

            Dean, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

            1220 S. 60th Court

 

68.       Rev. Fr. Mousa Haddad

            Church of the Virgin Mary

            Alsip, IL

 

 69.      Pastor John Stoltzfus

            Lombard Mennonite Church

            Lombard, IL

 

70.       Rev. Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey, PhD

            Dean of Students

            Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

            Evanston, IL

 

71.       Connie Baker

            President, Church Network for Education on Palestine

            Elmhurst, IL

 

72.       Breeze Richardson

            Clerk, on behalf of the 57th St. Meeting of Friends

            Chicago, IL

 

 73.      Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director

            Council on American Islamic Relations

            Chicago, IL

           

Letter forwarded October 17, 2007 by Friends of Sabeel--North America

PO Box 9186, Portland, OR 97207

FOSNA.org