Mainstream churches oppose Jerusalem resolution

A coalition of mainstream churches urged U.S. lawmakers to reject a resolution calling on the administration to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The non-binding resolution to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday “ignores the complexities of daily life in Jerusalem and fails to recognize the growing consensus that the city must be shared by both Israel and a future Palestinian state,” Churches for Middle East Peace said in a message sent to the offices of all House members. “Its statements and recommendations do not take into consideration the sensitive nature of the status of Jerusalem, but rather promote U.S. actions that would pre-judge the city’s future and undermine final status negotiations.” The resolution marks 40 years since Jerusalem’s reunification. A similar resolution is likely to be considered soon by the Senate. The policy of the Bush administration and its predecessors is to leave the city’s status to Israeli and Palestinian negotiators. CMEP is a coalition of Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant national church bodies that promotes advocacy on issues relating to Middle East peace.