Churches welcomes UN resolution calling for end to Israel's occupation of Palestine

Source: CMEP

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has issued a statement supporting last week's United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution, which affirms the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) advisory opinion, calling for Israel to end its decades-long occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip within one year.

CMEP say: 'This resolution represents the minimum required for any meaningful steps toward justice, peace, and reconciliation in the region. The Israeli occupation, which has persisted for over half a century, is at the heart of the ongoing suffering and struggle for rights. It must be addressed if there is ever to be a just and lasting peace.

The UNGA resolution represents the will of the international community to confront core issues, including the rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian people and the need to end the cycles of violence that continue to devastate Palestinians and Israelis alike.

All communities in the Middle East, whether they be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or Druze, require an end to this conflict in order to live in peace and safety, allowing future generations to build a shared future in which trust and equality have been returned to these shared communal relationships.

CMEP urges the United States administration to abide by and uphold US and international law by ceasing the provision of weapons to Israel and ending the diplomatic cover that has for decades enabled Israel's military occupation to become more entrenched with the construction and expansion of settlements, the appropriation of more and more land, the construction of the separation barrier (also deemed illegal by the ICJ), and the violation and diminishment of Palestinian rights living on land their families have inhabited for centuries.

Only through a commitment to justice and accountability, followed by concrete actions, can the region move toward a peaceful and secure future. If the occupation continues, the threat not only to Palestinians and Israelis but also to neighboring countries grows ever more severe.

As the war spills over to Lebanon where in recent days Israeli airstrikes have so far killed over five hundred people, the risk of a greater regional confrontation grows exponentially. This moment presents an opportunity for de-escalation and a chance to move toward a future of peace and security for all people in the region.

CMEP calls on all parties to respect this resolution and international law and take the necessary steps to end the occupation as part of a broader commitment to justice.'