Posted on 11/13/2004 4:31:52 PM PST by mandingo republican
NEWS WATCH: World Council of Churches Praises Late Arafat in Controversial Statement November 11, 2004 UTC By: Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, BosNewsLife
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- In a move expected to raise Arafat peace maker? Arafat peace maker? Source: Via Google Images controversy, the World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed its condolences Thursday, November 11, to the Palestinians following the death of Yasser Arafat at age 75, earlier in the day.
Although Israeli government officials and some of their Christian supporters in Jerusalem criticized Arafat for his alleged links to terrorist networks, a WCC official described him as someone who should be honored for upholding the place of both Christians and Muslims in Palestinian society, as "participants in its affairs and as shapers of its future".
"UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION"
In a letter sent to the Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei', the director of WCC's International Affairs Commission, Peter Weiderud, said his Geneva based organization believes "President Arafat will be remembered for bringing the Palestinian people together and for his unique and tenacious contribution to the cause of establishing their national home."
The official stressed the WCC, the "largest inter-church body in the world" will "ask God's comfort for the members of his family in this time of deep grief." Weiderud said "the WCC Churches of the Holy Land" honor Arafat's "commitment to their place in the Palestinian society" and he lashed out to Israel's "occupation" of Palestinian territories.
"His path has now ended, amid the rocks and thorns of occupation, at a distance from the goal he sought. As he is laid to rest the world will see - from the location of his final resting place - how far the Palestinian people must still travel together,” he added in the letter seen by BosNewsLife.
"TRUE JUSTICE"
Arafat "came to the recognition that true justice embraces peace, security and hope for both Palestinians and Israelis," he added. Weiderud's words on behalf of an organization representing hundreds of churches in over 120 countries, were not supported by everyone in Jerusalem.
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), a Christian organization supporting Israel's right to exist, has expressed concern about the role Arafat's Fatah faction and other militant groups related to the Palestinian Authority (PA) played in suicide attacks.
Bethlehem Bethlehem"s Church of the Nativity was scene of standoff in 2002. Source: CNN An estimated one thousand Israelis have been killed in suicide bombings and related violence.
In statements the ICEJ has in recent years also warned churches not to be "deceived into thinking Arafat and the Muslim-dominated PA will be a principled and trustworthy guardian of Jewish or Christian shrines and places of worship in the Holy Land.
Their record so far in Bethlehem, Hebron and Nablus is deplorable."
Arafat's body was to be flown to Cairo, Egypt for a memorial ceremony and, after that, to the West Bank city, Ramallah, for burial, after Israeli authorities gave permission for his funeral there.
"Following the request of the Palestinian Authority, and taking into account the recommendation of the security bodies...it is our intention to allow the funeral and burial in Ramallah..." the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said earlier in a statement send to BosNewsLife.
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has refused to allow his burial in Jerusalem, which both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital.
WTF?!
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/english.html
"the wcc is a fellowship of churches, now 342 in more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all christian traditions"
342 churches?
that number speaks for it self!
Just like in the presidential election these folks are clueless. They play this dumb socialists idology game while their membership slips away. Much like the dems.
BS, this guy is the same as Bin Laden.
Can you see Laden being praised the same way? That is what they are doing here with this POS!
Is it just me--or does the world seem to be going completely mad?
Same clowns that helped ship Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba.
*gag reflex*
who the heck are these idiots?
If this isn't an anti-Semitic statement, what is???
Ecumenically socialistic Christians (all rather oxymoronic), buttressed by the NCC and supporting churches.
Yes........barf
Exactly. I guess they've absolved Arafat for the murder of the helpless, elderly wheelchair-bound Leon Klinghoffer--the man who was thrown overboard when the Achille Lauro was boarded and the passengers taken hostage...
Nice of them to forgive him. I don't forgive him OR them.
here's the list of their 342 Churches:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/links/church.html
No, it's not just you.
The United Methodist Church is a member of the WCC. Glad I left it.
Big, stinkin', pile of feces.
Weren't they also involved in greasing the skids under poor little Elian?
"Yes it shows how many "so called christian churches" have lost there way..."
No kidding. That's why I refuse to set foot inside ANY Christian church that associates itself with either the NCC or WCC.
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