STATEMENT ON ISRAEL/PALESTINE CONFLICT

Following up on our December 10 program, Table Talk: Presbyterians Dialogue on Israel/Palestine, we want to share with the congregation our faithful witness on the conflict currently raging in Israel/Palestine. Based on our Christian values and guided by the materials and positions of the Presbyterian Church (USA), we support and pray for peace and an end to hostilities as well as the safe return of the hostages to Israel and a dramatic infusion of humanitarian aide for all those suffering in Gaza. We also recognize the traumatic impact these hostilities have had both on our local Jewish brothers and sisters and on our local Arab and Muslim brothers and sisters.

We join our Jewish interfaith neighbors, especially our partner congregation at Temple Isaiah, to decry the actions of Hamas which resulted in the tragic loss of Jewish civilian lives and the taking of the hostages who must be released. Simultaneously, we join our Muslim and Arab interfaith neighbors, especially our partner congregation at the San Ramon Valley Islamic Center, to grieve the overwhelming loss of innocent human life, deprivation of sustaining humanitarian aide and destruction of property being inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Under the guidance of the PCUSA, we acknowledge the complexities which have led to these enormous tragedies while being faithful to the teachings of the Gospel that all lives are precious. On the one hand, we continue to support Israel’s right to exist as a free and sovereign nation within their internationally recognized borders, the right of Israeli citizens to live safely in secure borders, and for the state of Israel to hold accountable to justice those who carry out acts of violence and murder against them.

Similarly, we stand firm in support of Palestinians and their right to live free in their internationally recognized land, without occupation, aggression and bloodshed. We therefore urge the Israeli government to honor the Palestinian people with the same freedom they offer their own citizens and continue to do so amid this crisis. We also urge Hamas to release all hostages safely and refrain from additional violence. Moreover we urge all leaders to immediately put an end to the bloodshed, end the fighting, and open corridors to provide the people of Gaza with medical attention and necessary humanitarian supplies (sufficient food, safe water, fuel, electricity, etc.) to everyone who is in need.

Recognizing the immense destruction that is being inflicted in the Gaza strip, and in support of our mission partners there, LOPC has raised funds to provide relief and humanitarian support to the victims; and we hope to continue to do so. In worship and through prayer, we will lift up the families of victims on both sides, the hostages who are held captive, and intercede for peace and the cessation of hostilities. We will also remain in contact and solidarity with our Jewish and Arab and Muslim neighbors as well as our mission partners in Gaza, and keep the congregation informed on any actions developed in support of those interfaith and mission partners.  In addition, we are planning to have a further Table Talk event after the holidays to deepen our understanding of the complex realities at work in the Israel/Palestine region.