Catholic, Lutheran leaders visit West Bank areas affected by barrier

Published: 2004-08-05

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem was part of a delegation of Christian leaders who visited several West Bank communities affected by the separation barrier being constructed by Israel. Patriarch Sabbah, Father Mtanios Haddad, head of the Greek Catholics in Jerusalem, and Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan of Jerusalem visited the West Bank communities of Tulkarem, Jayyous and Nablus Aug. 2. Delegation members met with Christian and Muslim religious and civil leaders. They also met with members of the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel who have been living in the West Bank communities, said an Aug. 5 statement released by the World Council of Churches. In the town of Tulkarem, where Israel has confiscated some 17,500 acres, church leaders were told that the wall has pushed the unemployment rate to 80 percent, the statement said.

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