The Significance of Jerusalem for Christians
and of Christians for Jerusalem

An International Conference sponsored by
Sabeel Liberation Theology Centre,
in consultation with the Middle East Council of Churches
and other ecumanical Christian organizations

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Conference Message

In Jerusalem, on 22-27 January 1996, over 300 Christians - Palestinians and international participants from more than 25 countries, lay people and clergy, including church leaders or their representatives - met to consider the theme "The Significance of Jerusalem for Christians and of Christians for Jerusalem." We gathered under the auspices of Sabeel Liberation Theology Center.

We, the conference participants, discussed the theological, spiritual, legal, political, social and cultural aspects of Jerusalem. We reaffirmed that Jerusalem should serve as the capital for two sovereign and independent states, Israel and Palestine.

Furthermore, the Palestinian Christians gathered stressed their unity with Palestinian Muslims in striving for peace and the establishment of a sovereign state in their homeland, with Jerusalem as its capital.

We worshipped together in Jerusalem, and visited a number of villages in the West Bank, so that we could meet and pray with Palestinian Christians who are prevented from entering Jerusalem. We witnessed the effects of 29 years of occupation on Palestinian society: land expropriation, new settlements and the expansion of existing ones, roadblocks preventing free movement of Palestinians, and continued detention of political prisoners (especially women, the sick and the elderly). We were appalled by the effects of the closure of Jerusalem on Palestinian life. As a result of its illegal annexation by Israel, East Jerusalem has been cut off from its natural surrounding environment and access to it has been denied to Palestinian Christians and Muslims of the West Bank and Gaza. This closure has been strictly enforced since 1993, strangling normal life in East Jerusalem itself and depriving Palestinians of its rich spiritual, cultural, medical and economic resources.

In the light of these discussions and experiences, we insist on the following:

I . The government of Israel should remove forthwith all roadblocks and obstacles preventing free access to Jerusalem for Palestinians.

2. There should be an immediate cessation of all land expropriation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and of the building and expansion of Jewish settlements there, notably the Jebel Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) settlement

3. The government of Israel should change its planning policies so that Palestinians have equal rights to build housing in Jerusalem and develop their institutions which have been restncted since 1967.

4. East Jerusalem, as an integral part of the occupied territories, should be included in all political arrangements relating to these territories, including self determination, release of prisoners, right of return and eventual sovereignty.

The participants visited with Palestinian Arab Christians in Israel, especially the Galilee, and affirmed their demand that equal rights and opportunities for Palestinian Arabs living in the state of Israel be granted.

The conference participants commit themselves to respect the noble ideals of all religions and dissociate themselves from all fundamentalist tendencies which subvert the dignity of people under the pretext of an alleged divine mandate. The participants repudiate the ideology and activities of Christian Zionist groups and others who seek to sanctify exclusive Israeli control over the Holy City through such campaigns as "Jerusalem 3000".

Palestinian Christians affirm their essential attachment to the Holy City and acknowledge its significance for Muslims, Christians and Jews. The international participants affirm their attachment to the Holy City and the Church of Jerusalem, the Mother Church of all Christian believers, and express their concern for the welfare of Palestinian Christians (the Living Stones, 1. Peter 2:5). In this light, we pledge to do all we can to maintain a vital Christian presence in the Holy Land. Moreover, we call on all peoples involved in the current Middle East peace talks to seriously consider this conference message.

We, both local and international Christians, recognize our responsibility to witness to the Lord Jesus Christ in the land of his birth, death and resurrection. We pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

28 January 1996