The Governing Body of the Church in Wales today (Wednesday, 10th April) unanimously passed a motion on Israel / Palestine. Proposing the motion was John Harris of St Asaph diocese, who chairs the Church in Wales’ International Strategic Agenda Group. Commenting ahead of the debate he said:

“Our aims are to condemn the use of violence in whatever form by whomever to resolve the issues in the Holy Land; to express our support for the UN resolutions strengthened by those of the Security Council in March; to call for the involvement in the democratic process of peace making and to send a message of continuing solidarity with people in Israel / Palestine.”

The text of the motion itself says:

1. That the Governing Body of the Church in Wales notes with increasing concern the continuing instability and violence in Israel/Palestine, and the resulting economic and social disadvantage in vulnerable groups and communities, as well as the widespread destruction, fear, injury and loss of life in the area.

2. That the Governing Body believes that the best way to achieve longer term security and a lasting basis for peace is for both sides to recognise the legitimate aspirations, rights and needs of the other, and to make that the basis for their political policies.

3. That while the Governing Body recognises the legitimate right of both sides for their own defence, it believes the present ideology of ‘Security first’, as developed and expressed by the current policy of the State of Israel, has raised the level of threat to the Palestinians and thus escalated the violence, with its consequent threat to the security of all families and individuals within the State of Israel.

4. That the Governing Body calls upon the Knesset and the Palestinian Authority, as well as individual politicians, religious groups and community leaders, to find a way of breaking the spiral of ‘revenge violence’ by drawing a line over the accumulation of retaliation, threat and counter threat in order to move towards genuine peace, justice and stability in the area.

5. That the Governing Body prays that both sides be encouraged by their leadership to enter into a new joint formal process of negotiation, based on international, religious and humane values of truth, forgiveness and reconciliation, to address the social, political and structural causes of this spiral of violence.

6. That the Governing Body commits itself to finding ways of supporting collaborative projects and initiatives between Israeli and Palestinian; Jewish, Muslim and Christian individuals and groups, which bring signs of hope and practical inspiration to the situation.

7. That the Governing Body calls upon the Knesset to implement UN resolutions 242, 338 and 194; and supports the resolution (V.20) of the 1998 Lambeth conference of Worldwide Anglican Bishops.

8. That the Governing Body assures both Israel and Palestine of its prayers for peace; that its prayers will be offered in the name of the God who has revealed himself through the Old and New Testaments, and calls us all to aspire to a greater love for each other, our neighbours, those who are strangers to us and our enemies beyond all the divisions we have constructed within our human family.

John Harris continued saying: “Palpably the decision of the GB will have little direct effect on the situation in the Holy Land, but we are responding to the cries for support and for prayer and for hope coming from our fellow Christians in the Middle East.”

Carol Cobert, of Llandaff diocese, who seconded the motion also said: “By supporting partnership projects - such as the support for the Mobile Dental Clinic in Gaza , supported by the Church in Wales’ Jubilee Fund - which the Church in Wales has established we are not only offering support but also giving the people of Palestine an assurance that we care

“With a vision of truth justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, it is our hope that the land of Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed can truly be called the Holy Land once again.”