Presbyterians For Middle East Peace

1974 Statement

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PCUSA, 1974, p. 584

[1] . . . the negotiation of concrete terms for the settlement of the Middle East conflict is the responsibility of the Middle Eastern parties themselves, with appropriate support and assistance from the international community. . . .

The right and power of Jewish people to self-determination by political expression in Israel, based upon full civil liberties for all, should be recognized by the parties in the Middle East and by the international community. . . .

Boundaries of all states in the area should be mutually defined and accepted. . . .

Israel should assure full political rights and the right to effective participation in public life to all Israeli Arabs. . . .

The Arab countries should assure and foster full participation by minority religious, ethnic, and national communities in political, social, and economic life. . . .

All outside powers should support safeguards for the mutual security of Middle East states . . .

In particular, the United States and the Soviet Union could best serve the interests of the peoples in the Middle East by seeking multilateral steps to limit arms supplies to all countries of the area consistent with the building of a substantive detente.

. . . The Arab oil-producing countries with accumulating financial reserves should commit themselves to increase assistance for the long-term development of the entire Middle East region through cooperative efforts directed toward the economic growth, political stability, and alleviation of social ills. . . .

The parties involved should negotiate a shared common authority for a unified Jerusalem that will preserve the integrity of the city; give full expression to the legitimate national political interests of both Israel and the Palestinians; protect the rights of all residents; and protect the legitimate religious interests of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim groups, including free access to all holy places. . . .