Press Release

The National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel (NCLCI) at its meeting in Springfield, Missouri (October 27-29, 2000) expresses its profound sadness at the loss of lives – Palestinian Arabs, Israelis and Druze -- during the recent hostilities in Israel and areas under Israeli and/or Palestinian authority.

• In this United Nations Year of the Child we are particularly outraged at the Palestinian Authority’s exploitation of children and families as part of the machinery of war and we commend people on all sides who demonstrate restraint in the face of provocation.
• We demand that all signers of the Declaration of Principles (signed on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 13, 1993) live up to their agreement to honor and protect all holy sites, a principle that Israel has declared and upheld since its inception as a State in 1948. Credibility of any political authority depends absolutely on the ability and will to ensure such respect.
• We deplore the kidnapping of hostages and call on all parties involved to share information leading to their immediate release.
• We challenge all community leaders and clergy of all faiths to refrain from rhetoric that condemns the faith traditions of other peoples and incites their followers to violence. Now is the time to inspire peace and healing and repudiate rage and vengeance.
• We express our solidarity with our fellow Christians who are authentically seeking peace and reconciliation in the Middle East in the face of persecution, isolation and discouragement.

NCLCI reaffirms its solidarity with the People, Land and State of Israel as it endures another time of trial and disappointment on the road to a genuinely harmonious relationship with their neighboring peoples and nations.

NCLCI also reaffirms its conviction that Jerusalem should remain the single, undivided political capital of Israel.