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It won't be possible to solve the future status of Jerusalem without making it an open city with dual administration, controlled by a special statute-and with an international power in case the two sides don't agree, Sambi says.

Rally in Bethlehem
Members of the NCC peace delegation traveled to Bethlehem Sunday night to join hundreds of people on a candlelight march to Manger Square under the theme,"Justice for the Land of Peace; the Light of Right not the Fire of Might."

Beginning at the Lutheran Christmas Church where they were addressed by religious leaders from Christian and Muslim traditions, the diverse crowd flowed down the hill, stopping at four stations to read portions of scripture and join in song. Arriving at the square, they moved to a stage for a series of speeches and greetings from religious leaders.

Bringing greetings on behalf of the American delegation, John McCullough of Church World Service, the relief agency of the National Council of Churches, said, "We have come to light a light of peace and to hold it high. We know that God's promise will be established in this land."

Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, executive minister for Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, said, "Today the world celebrates international human rights day. We, the U.S. churches celebrate it with you. The moral arc of the universe bends toward justice, just as it did 2000 years ago, so it does tonight. It bends toward Bethlehem."

Copyright © 2000 Episcopal News Service

Recent media coverage of conflict in Palestine includes:

Commission meets with Israeli, Palestinian leaders—CNN (Dec. 12, 2000)

UN says Israel blocks aid—City Press (Dec. 11, 2000)

Hard look at slayings of Palestinian youths—The Boston Globe (Dec. 11, 2000)

Previous Christianity Today stories about conflict in Israel and Palestine include:

Lutheran Bishop's Appeal from Jerusalem | Religious leader's letter requests prayer for Christians, Jews, and Palestinians in troubled region. (Nov. 10, 2000)

Latin Patriarch tells Israel to Surrender Lands to Palestinians | Catholic leader says Israel will never have peace unless it "converts all of its neighbors to friends." (Nov. 1, 2000)

Fighting Engulfs a Christian Hospital in Jerusalem | Lutherans call conflict on their hospital grounds "an affront" to humanitarian purposes. (Oct. 16, 2000)

Preparing for Pilgrims | Religious rivalry complicates millennial planning. (June 14, 1999)

How Evangelicals Became Israel's Best Friend | (October 5, 1998)

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December (Web-only) 2000, Vol. 44