The Rt. Rev. Riah Abu Al-Essal, Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, spoke with Center Aisle Wednesday about the five resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine. Bishop Riah also reflected on the advertisement that has run in USA Today from CAMERA, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, which was aimed at General Convention (“An Open Letter to Our Friends in the Episcopal Church Urging Fair Treatment of Israel”).

CA: This is the advertisement that ran in USA Today addressing General Convention. Do you agree with it?

Riah: [after reading the ad] Who is this group? They do not know what they are talking about. [concerning the ad’s claim that only 5 percent of the wall being built by Israel is concrete] Five percent? They have not seen it. They do not know what they are talking about. This is not true.

CA: What things can be done that are supportive and helpful for Christians in the Middle East?

Riah: First, the end of illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the support of the U.S. administration for the U.N. resolutions relating to the illegal occupation (by Israel) and the need to comply with those resolutions. Second, the removal of all stumbling blocks on the way to peace – the separation wall, the illegal settlements, the humiliating checkpoints. Third, (American Episcopalians need to) become informed directly and be positively involved to support church institutions and church life throughout the Middle East, but in particular in Jerusalem and Israel.

CA: What do you think about the resolutions under consideration?

Riah: On A011, the first two points are good, but please add, “in accordance with U.N. resolutions.” On point three, yes, (but emphasize) “shared capital of two independent states.” Points four, five and six are fine. For point seven, add “and anti-Palestinianism.” A012, A013, A014 and A015 -- yes.

CA: What can you say to us about the election of Hamas to govern Palestine?

Riah: You should recognize those elected by the best democratic process anywhere in the world, supervised by (former) President Carter and all those with him, and try to negotiate an end to violence (with Hamas). Otherwise, stop talking about democracy and democratizing the Middle East. You can’t talk about it and then not support it when it happens.

CA: What else would you say to us at General Convention?

Riah: Wake up before it is late. Wake up to the mission entrusted to us by God. As Paul would say, God was in Christ reconciling the world to him, and he entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to us. But reconciliation in no way sets aside the search for justice. The search for justice implies giving sight to the blind, opening the eyes of the people to … the facts on the ground. Otherwise, we are speaking in abstract terms that very few people understand and far less think of implementing. Wake up before it is late. Try to protect, preserve and sustain whatever is left of the indigenous Christians in the birthplace of our faith. Wake up before it is late and the land of the Holy One becomes a museum of holy stones rather than a place with a lively Christian community testifying to the death and to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, in whose name we meet and for whose sake and the sake of his Gospel we gather and confer.