WCC offers condolence to Palestine, amidst controversy

Geneva, Switzerland – In a move expected to rake up controversy, the World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed its condolences on the passing away of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, to his Palestinian followers.

Arafat, who was revered by his own people but despised by others, was the foremost figure in pressing for an independent Palestinian state. Although he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his role in the creation of a peace deal that formally recognized Israel’s right to exist while granting Palestinians self–governance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, he has also been blamed for the derailing the peace accord by encouraging terrorism.

Although Israeli government officials and some of their Christian supporters in Jerusalem criticized Arafat for his alleged links to terrorist networks, a WCC official described him as someone who should be honored for upholding the place of both Christians and Muslims in Palestinian society, as "participants in its affairs and as shapers of its future".

In a letter sent to the Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei', the director of WCC's International Affairs Commission, Peter Weiderud, said his Geneva based organization believes "President Arafat will be remembered for bringing the Palestinian people together and for his unique and tenacious contribution to the cause of establishing their national home."

The official stressed the WCC, the "largest inter–church body in the world" will "ask God's comfort for the members of his family in this time of deep grief." Weiderud said "the WCC Churches of the Holy Land" honor Arafat's "commitment to their place in the Palestinian society" and he lashed out to Israel's "occupation" of Palestinian territories.

“We stand with the Churches of the Holy Land to honour his commitment to their place in the Palestinian society, its affairs and its future. President Arafat often made sure to mention the church as well as the mosque as core institutions of Palestinian national life. True to the customs of mutual respect among his diverse people, he celebrated Christmas with the churches of Bethlehem as circumstances permitted,” he said.

"His path has now ended, amid the rocks and thorns of occupation, at a distance from the goal he sought. As he is laid to rest the world will see – from the location of his final resting place – how far the Palestinian people must still travel together,” he added.

Arafat "came to the recognition that true justice embraces peace, security and hope for both Palestinians and Israelis," he concluded.

However, Weiderud's words on behalf of an organization representing hundreds of churches in over 120 countries, were not supported by everyone in Jerusalem.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), a Christian organization supporting Israel's right to exist, has expressed concern about the role Arafat's Fatah faction and other militant groups related to the Palestinian Authority (PA) played in suicide attacks.

An estimated one thousand Israelis have been killed in suicide bombings and related violence.

In statements the ICEJ has in recent years also warned churches not to be "deceived into thinking Arafat and the Muslim–dominated PA will be a principled and trustworthy guardian of Jewish or Christian shrines and places of worship in the Holy Land.”

“Their record so far in Bethlehem, Hebron and Nablus is deplorable,” the statement read.

Arafat's body was to be flown to Cairo, Egypt for a memorial ceremony and, after that, to the West Bank city, Ramallah, for burial, after Israeli authorities gave permission for his funeral there.

"Following the request of the Palestinian Authority, and taking into account the recommendation of the security bodies...it is our intention to allow the funeral and burial in Ramallah..." the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said earlier in a statement.

Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has refused to allow his burial in Jerusalem, which both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital.