President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

I serve as the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the fourth largest Protestant church in this country.

On this Tuesday after Easter I write urging you and Secretary Powell to do everything within your power to bring about a cease-fire in the Middle East between Israelis and Palestinians and then work for sustained peace with justice there. As one step toward breaking the cycle of violence and solidifying this cease-fire, I call on the U.S. government to work with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to establish an international presence in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

The events of these last days and weeks make my heart heavy with sorrow: acts of violence followed by retaliation followed by more violence and more retaliation. And in all of these, innocent people are killed and injured.

Today I received a copy of the enclosed appeal from all eleven patriarchs and heads of the Christian churches in Jerusalem, urging you to help stop the violence. With this appeal came the news that, in addition to Israeli tanks in Bethlehem's Nativity Square, tanks have destroyed the first floor entrance of the home of our Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem, the Rev. Mitri Raheb, and have damaged our Christmas Lutheran Church, which is nearby. I ask you to remind the parties to this conflict of their international obligations with regard to humanitarian law and human rights standards.

I know you and Secretary Powell to be men of faith. I ask you now to be men of peace, especially concerning the Middle East.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America