Statement on the wall in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel's annexation of Palestinian territory

Ecumenical Review, The, April, 2004

   For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one
   and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility
   between us. (Eph. 2:14)

The WCC executive committee, meeting in Geneva from 17-20 February 2004, guided by the teachings and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, and by his death and resurrection has promised one new humanity on the foundation of faithful witnesses for people of every race; having received an updated report on Israel's construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and in and around East Jerusalem, since April 2002, which is in departure of the Armistice Line of 1949 (Green Line) and is in contradiction to relevant provisions of international law, is;

Gravely concerned about the fundamental violations of human rights of the Palestinian people, the confiscation and destruction of their land and resources, the disruption of the lives of thousands of protected civilians and the de facto annexation of large areas of territory and in particular its devastating humanitarian consequences on the life and dignity of innocent Palestinians;

Recalling the WCC central committee minute of September 2003 and relevant WCC policy statements on Israel-Palestine,

Noting the alarming statements and reports from the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, WCC member churches and councils of churches, the Holy See, Ecumenical Accompaniers, the secretary general of the United Nations, relevant United Nations agencies and independent human rights organizations,

Respecting the established principle of international law on the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force contained in the Kellog-Briand Pact of 1928 and Article 2 paragraph 4 of the Charter of the UN; the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions to the OPT, including East Jerusalem and the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 1907,

Recalling also all relevant United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions,

Strongly condemning all forms of violence and attacks perpetrated by the state of Israel and its Defence Forces inside the OPT and by Palestinian armed groups against innocent civilians inside the state of Israel,

Recognizing Israel's right and duty to protect its people against attacks and suicide bombers inside the state of Israel, without contravening international law and jeopardizing longer term prospects for peace,

Acknowledging the Palestinian people's right for resistance against the Israeli occupation inside the Occupied Palestinian Territories, without resorting to terror and creating indiscriminate fear among civilians,

Reiterating our belief that all people have the right and duty to struggle against injustice and oppression,

Reaffirming our strong conviction that non-violent means of resistance and peaceful negotiations are the only way to achieve a lasting, viable solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict,

Noting that the route of the wall and the scope of its construction give no indication that it is either a temporary measure or dictated solely by security needs,

Concerned that this act could prejudge future negotiations and make a two-state solution physically impossible, and become a major obstacle to a just and sustainable peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples;

The WCC executive committee

Acknowledges that Israel has serious and legitimate security concerns and that the construction of a wall on its own territory would not have been in contravention of international law,

Considers, nevertheless, the construction and location of this wall in grave breach of international humanitarian law as enunciated inter alia by the Fourth Geneva Convention and the state of Israel in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and fundamental principles of international law: the prohibition on the forcible acquisition of territory and the right to self-determination as well as application of universal human rights principles and standards,

Strongly condemns the violations of human rights and humanitarian consequences as a result of this act, in particular the restrictions on access by Palestinians to the closed area between the wall and the Green Line and the limited passage through the wall, violating right to liberty of movement; the resulting obstacles to access to workplaces, farmland, health services and schools, demolition of houses and uprooting of trees for the construction of the wall, violating the right to work, the right to adequate standard of living including housing, the right to health care and the right to education; the different requirements for Palestinians and Israelis to obtain permits to be granted access to and remain in the closed area violating the right to equality before the law,

Rejects the creation of a new political boundary that defines enclaves in which the Palestinians will be confined, extending Israeli civilian and military presence inside Palestinian territory, undermining all peacemaking efforts and most importantly the whole concept of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state established side by side the State of Israel,