25 February Mr. Ehud Barak Minister of Defense 37 Kaplan Street Hakirya, Tel Aviv 61909 Israel Dear Mr. Barak: Re: Stop Israeli Army’s incursion into Beit Sahour’s Peace Park The Christian Conference of Asia, its Member Churches and Councils, join me in supporting the people of Beit Sahour as they call for a stop to the Israeli Army’s incursion into Beit Sahour’s Peace Park. The current incursion into Beit Sahour, including declaring the land a closed military zone and excavating around the park is considered as inhuman and illegal on the part of both Christians and Muslims. It is painful for Christians who form 80% of the population of Beit Sahour.

In September 2009, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches issued a Statement on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, calling upon the occupying power to fully and effectively respect the Fourth Geneva Convention, including its prohibition against any change in the population and character of occupied territories. The same Statement called upon the Israeli Government to urgently implement an open-ended freeze in good faith on all settlement construction and expansion as a first step towards the dismantling of all settlements. The churches in Asia offer their prayers, support and solidarity with the people of the Occupied Palestinian Territories in their struggle for justice and against the continued occupation of their God-given land.

Yours sincerely, DR. PRAWATE KHID-ARN General Secretary cc: Mr. Hani Alhayik, Mayor of Beit Sahour Ms Yael, Rubenstein, Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Kairos Palestine Mr. Michel Nseir CCA Member Churches and Councils CCA Officers and General Committee members