WCC NEWS:Executive committee calls “conscience of the world” to “obstruction of legitimate Palestinian aspirations for equal human dignity and rights”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, in a public statement, expressed grave concern over recent developments in Palestine and Israel, which indicate “a deteriorating situation in the region, emblematic of the many ways in which the ongoing military occupation of the Palestinian territories obstructs achieving a just peace among the people of the Holy Land, and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and responses to it which have resulted in further restrictions on the space for civil society action in the region.” Jerusalem, 2020. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF 17 November 2021 The text continues: “Together with some international civil society organizations, Palestinian civil society has long been targeted by measures which shrink its space to operate.” The statement concludes with the WCC executive committee again calling “the conscience of the world to the unremitting military occupation of the Palestinian territories and the ongoing marginalization and obstruction of legitimate Palestinian aspirations for equal human dignity and rights.” The WCC executive committee is meeting—in-person for the first time in two years—from 12-17 November at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. Read full statement: Statement on recent developments in Palestine and Israel WCC executive committee member shares reflection on “how are we called to act in love and justice?” (WCC press release of 15 November 2021) WCC executive committee “reimagining the future” with a sense of hope (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) WCC executive committee to hold first in-person meeting in two years (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland