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The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has strongly condemned the Israeli military occupation of the town of Beit Jala, particularly the use by Israeli forces of the Lutheran church there as a base for military activities.

In a brief note to the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, LWF general secretary, Dr Ishmael Noko, expressed "the outrage""of the global organization at the invasion of "one of the holy places of the Christian community of Beit Jala."

"I cannot refrain from saying how deeply this rash and precipitate action has undermined the LWF's faith" in the Israeli government's goodwill in responding to the current crisis, Noko said.

The general secretary, who was attending meetings in preparation for the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, called for the withdrawal of all Israeli armed forces in the Beit Jala area.

The Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem, Munib A. Younan, also condemned the Israeli occupation of the church in Beit Jala.

Last October the LWF general secretary wrote to then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak protesting against the occupation of the LWF-run Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem by Israeli forces.

Copyright © 2001 ENI

Israel's Beit Jala Thrust Divides Christian Town— Reuters (Aug. 28, 2001)

Israelis take town; US again is critical — Boston Globe (Aug. 29, 2001)

Lutheran Church says 50 children stranded in Beit Jala — The Jerusalem Post (Aug. 29, 2001)

Villagers Trapped as Israelis Vow to Stay 'as Long as It Takes' — Los Angeles Times (Aug. 29, 2001)

U.S. Asks Israel to Pull Troops From Town in West Bank — The New York Times (Aug. 29, 2001)

Israeli invasion provokes outrage — The Guardian (Aug. 29, 2001)

Israeli troops leave Beit Jala — BBC News (August 30, 2001)

For current articles on the Palestinian and Israeli conflict, see Yahoo's full coveragearea.

Previous Christianity Todayarticles on violence in the Holy Land:

Amid Fears for Future, Jerusalem's Churches Embark On Prayers for Peace | Week of prayer launched with services held in various congregations. (Aug. 22, 2001)

Strengthen Christian Presence In The Holy Land, Carey Pleads | Middle-East leaders asked to help tone down violence that has killed 650 in 10 months. (August 2, 2001)

Greek Orthodox Priest Falls Victim to Middle East Conflict | Monks worry they may appear as threats to each warring side. (June 21, 2001)

Violence Puts Archaeologists Between Rocks, Hard Places | About half of the planned excavations in the Holy Land this summer have been canceled. (June 27, 2001)

Pilgrimages Drop and Workers Lose Jobs as Middle East Violence Continues | Silence fills places normally crowded with pilgrims, reports British group. (April 11, 2001)

Holy Land Roadblocks | Christian pilgrims learn about Palestinians' everyday indignities. (Apr. 9, 2001)

Christian Zionists Rally for Jewish State | More than 600 Christians from around the world flock to Jerusalem to show solidarity with Israel as peace process collapses. (Apr. 9, 2001)

Between a Rock and a Holy Site | Muslims have stepped up their efforts to take control of places revered by Jews and Christians. (Feb. 13, 2001)

The Peace Regress | What's behind the current outbreak of hostilities in the Holy Land? (Jan. 11, 2001)

Conflict in the Holy Land | A timeline of trials for the most contested piece of real estate in the world.

Christmas in Palestine: Hunger and War | Starvation threatens Palestinian villages if U.N. aid continues to be delayed, Vatican official warns. (Dec. 13, 2000)

Between the Temple Mount and a Hard Place | Palestinian Christians want both peace in their villages and justice for their Muslim brothers. (Dec. 5, 2000)

Christmas Plans for Bethlehem Scrapped | Escalating violence cancels millennial celebration in town of Christ's birth. (Dec. 1, 2000)

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)

Israelis and Palestinians Pay Tribute to Pope's Pilgrimage to Holy Land | Though some at grassroots remain unappeased, leaders of both groups are full of praise. (March 29, 2000)

Prepared for Pilgrims? | As Christian tourism surges, Holy Land believers brave troubled future. (Feb. 10, 2000)

Apology Crusaders to Enter Israel (April 15, 1999)

West Bank Squeezed by Warring Majorities | (Nov. 16, 1998)

Squeezed by Warring Majorities (November 6, 1998)

How Evangelicals Became Israel's Best Friend (Oct. 5, 1998)

Jerusalem as Jesus Views It (Oct. 5, 1998)

Temple Mount on Shaky Ground? | (April 6, 1998)

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September (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45