Following the journey of a delegation to the Holy Land in July, the Council of the Christian Churches in France (Cecef) has denounced the isolation of the Christian communities encountered in the Mid-East. At a press conference held in Paris, in recent days, Msgr. Guy Thomazeau, bishop of Beauvais and member of the permanent Council of the French Episcopal Conference, insisted on the fact that Israelis and Palestinians “must make peace between each other, but cannot do so by themselves”. The Cecef delegation returned from its trip to the Mid-East with the determination as reported by pastor Jean-Arnold de Clermont, president of Cecef to “undertake a dialogue with the responsible political authorities”. The Pastor and president of the Protestant Federation of France, the co-president of Cecef and president of the Assembly of French Orthodox bishops, Metropolitan Jérémie, and Msgr. Guy Thomazeau have also emphasized the need to show “concrete solidarity” in supporting the movements for human rights. The delegation had many contacts with Church leaders, with human rights associations and with the representatives of civil society. It was particularly struck by its visit to Gaza (1.2 million inhabitants, of whom 830,000 refugees). In the course of its various meetings, Cecef took on board the regret felt about the “silence” of the Western Churches on the situation of the ever more fragile Christian communities in the Mid-East. Cecef invited the leaders of the Christian churches in Israel and Palestine to send a delegation to France, early in 2002, to testify to the critical situation over there. For Advent, Christmas, and Holy Week, Cecef suggests promoting exchanges between parishes and sending delegations to Bethlehem and Beit Jala during the festivities.
