MIDDLE EAST: Churches' leader condemns Hebron killings of Israelis

By Judith Sudilovsky, September 01, 2010 [Ecumenical News International, Jerusalem] The head of the World Council of Churches, who is on a visit to the Middle East, has condemned the killings of four Israelis near Hebron in the West Bank.

"At a time when Palestinian and Israeli leaders are beginning negotiations, the extremists who encourage and legitimize violence must not be allowed to succeed," said WCC general secretary the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit in a Sept. 1 statement issued from the church grouping's Geneva headquarters.

"To bring security to both Israelis and Palestinians, the negotiations must stop the occupation and all the injustices that ordinary Palestinians experience each day," said Tveit in the statement that said he rejected any use of violence to gain peace for this region.

The four Israelis, who were reportedly settlers living on occupied land and included a pregnant woman, were killed on Aug. 31 by gunmen believed to be Palestinians. Tveit had visited Hebron as part of his Aug. 28 to Sept. 2 visit to the region.

The killings came as U.S. President Barack Obama prepared to meet Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Tveit said he and the WCC are praying for the success of the negotiations.

"It is urgent that the leaders take the necessary steps toward a just peace and not bring another moment of disappointment and injustice to the people in the region," he said.

The WCC groups 349 churches, principally Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant.