A group of Canadian Christian theologians has issued a statement supporting the claims of Israel to “secure and recognized borders.” The statement, which affirms “solidarity with our Jewish brethren in Israel,” is signed by 12 theologians including Terry Anderson, Lloyd Gaston and James Lindenberger of the Vancouver School of Theology and William Nicholls, head of religious studies at the University of British Columbia.
The statement says the Middle East situation is a “proper matter of Christian concern” because “the maintenance in the land of Israel of the Jewish people and their faith is an integral part of their witness to the one God.” It adds, “We call on members of all Christian churches, and the political leaders of Canada, to take all possible measures to uphold the security and integrity of the State of Israel.” It notes that Israel’s claim to statehood derives from United Nations resolutions of 1947 and says the same resolutions envisaged a Palestinian Arab state.
But the theologians say, Arab states have rejected these resolutions and engaged in armed aggression against Israel, and this releases Israel from the resolutions. They urge Israel to make “withdrawals from occupied Arab territory in exchange for progress towards recognition of her own final borders.”
JERUSALEM’S FUTURE NOT A CHRISTIAN CONCERN
The statement says the recent resolution of the UN General Assembly recognizing the Palestine Liberation Organization as a legitimate claimant to Israeli territory is “illegal, null and void, and a threat to peace. We hope for the emergence of legitimate representatives of the Palestinian
The statement adds that ownership of land on which Christian holy places are situated is not a legitimate Christian concern, provided freedom of access to pilgrims and worshippers is assured. “We therefore consider that Christians have no specific interest in the form which the future of Jerusalem should take,” It says. “In our view, this is solely a matter for free negotiation between the parties directly concerned.”
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