[WCUSP] Fwd: Israel makes Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Church of Nativity off limits to Christian Clergy

[Odile Hugonot Haber]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Karen deslierres <karendes at umich.edu>
Date: Dec 24, 2007 1:15 PM
Subject: Israel makes Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Church of
Nativity off limits to Christian Clergy
To: Karen deslierres <karendes at umich.edu>



 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


 FOR MORE INFORMATION
 Contact: Rasha Mukbil, Coordinator
 (c) +970-(0)59-817-3953


 Churches in Holy Land Latest Victims of Israeli Authorities' Travel
Prohibitions


 Israel makes Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Church of Nativity off
limits to Christian Clergy


 (Bethlehem, Palestine - 24 Dec 2007) As the world celebrates this
holiday season, Israel is blocking clergy from reaching their churches
and Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem and elsewhere in the Holy
Land.  These Israeli actions are in blatant violation of international
humanitarian law, block the right for religions to practice in the
Holy Land, and defy every notion of basic common sense.


 The Israeli authorities are arbitrarily denying entry to clergy and
volunteers belonging to or working for Christian institutions and
service providers.  The clergy being harassed and denied entry to
Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) join tens of
thousands of ordinary foreign passport holders of Palestinian and
non-Palestinian origin who wish to be with their families, work or
study, as well as tourists and pilgrims. This is especially sad at a
time of spiritual reflection and reunion of families, friends and
communities when major celebrations of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish
communities coincide over the same period.


 In a continuing demonstration of Israel's arbitrary denial of entry
policy, and disregard for the Palestinian population's right to
practice their religion and worship freely, Israel sends a clear
message to the international community that it has no intention
whatsoever to use the recent political movement at the Annapolis
Summit in Washington DC as a pretext to bring its actions in line with
international law.


 Furthermore, it appears that Israel has recently rescinded the year
long multiple entry visas commonly given to Arab clergy for churches
in both Palestine and in Israel (see Haaretz, "Israel Rescinds Arab
Christian clergy travel rights in W. Bank, by the Associated Press,
27/10/07").  Under the new rule, clergy who are now abroad, despite
their holding valid Israeli multiple entry visas, are being denied
re-entry into Israel and the oPt, where many of their churches are
located.  Future travel by these clergy will have to be coordinated
with multiple Israeli agencies in a process which can take more than a
year to complete. The process is not transparent, efficient, or
certain. Israel states that the request comes from "security
officials" without citing any problems or infringements to justify the
change, nor can anyone in the Christian community recall any such
problems.


 In addition, there appears to be a new policy by Israel to refuse
entry or visa extension for foreign, primarily Western, Christian
volunteers working with various Christian organizations here. This is
affecting the viability of these organizations and the normal
connection with their supporters and fellow Christians in the
countries that contribute to the presence of these Christian workers.
They represent mainstream Christian and faith-based groups, such as
the World Council of Churches and the American Friend's Service
Committee that advocate non- violence and brotherhood and are in no
way a threat to the security of Israel.


 A more realistic explanation of Israel's new policy is that many
Christian clergy and workers here have become extremely effective
advocates for the Christian communities with the outside world,
speaking to Christian and Jewish groups in the US and Europe and to
the US Congress on the harm being done to local Christians by the
separation wall and Israeli military occupation policies. It is more
likely that the intent of the law is to silence these critics.


 This has become an addition to Israel's unannounced policy which
accelerated in early 2006 of arbitrary denial of entry to the oPt for
foreign passport holding family members of Palestinian ID-holders,
educators, business persons, health professionals, humanitarian works
and others active in civil society. To date, despite high level
interventions by third state missions, international and human rights
organizations,  Israeli authorities have failed to provide a
transparent policy on which foreign nationals wishing to enter or
maintain their presence in the occupied Palestinian territory can
rely. Instead, Israel has continued to pursue both policies and
practices that fail to comply with International Humanitarian Law.


 The Campaign calls on third states, religious leaders and
congregations worldwide to protest Israel's actions harming the Church
community and to demand a clear, transparent and lawful policy for all
foreign nationals wishing to enter the Holy Land.


 = = 30 = =


 Campaign for the Right of Entry/Re-Entry to the Occupied Palestinian
Territory(oPt)
 A Grassroots Campaign for the Protection of Foreign Passport Holders
Residing in and/or Visiting the oPt
 Telephone: +970.(0)59.817.3953            Facsimile: +970.2.295.4903
 Website: www.RightToEnter.ps  Email: info at righttoenter.ps




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