Catholic Panel Calls for Palestinian Homeland

WASHINGTON —  A committee of U.S. Roman Catholic bishops, in a statement sharply critical of Israeli policy in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, called Wednesday for a sovereign Palestinian homeland.

The bishops also accused Israel of human rights abuses in the occupied territories, including beating deaths of Palestinians, detentions without trial and demolition of homes of persons believed to be involved in the uprising.

The 40-page statement, to be presented to the full conference of bishops next month at a convention in Baltimore, also called for Arab states to follow the lead of Egypt and establish full diplomatic relations with Israel.

Although the statement, “Toward Peace in the Middle East: Problems and Principles,” described U.S. support for Israel as “basically a sound, justified policy,” the bishops went far beyond anything that Washington has ever endorsed in their support for a Palestinian homeland.

U.S. policy, reiterated by Secretary of State James A. Baker III in his ongoing attempt to revive Israel’s plan for West Bank and Gaza elections, opposes creation of an independent Palestinian state.

The bishops’ draft called on Palestinians to offer guarantees of peace and security to Israel, in effect ending the 22-month-old West Bank and Gaza uprising. Nevertheless, the proposal is sure to provoke controversy in Israel, possibly worsening the already tense relations between the Jewish state and the Catholic Church.

“The key to successful political dialogue will be Palestinians willing to discuss secure boundaries and stable political relations with Israel, and Israelis willing to discuss territory and sovereignty with Palestinians,” the statement said. It added that “successful political dialogue will require Arab states to assure Israeli legitimacy and security and it will require Israeli commitment to land for peace.”

Although Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir’s Israeli government insists that it is ready for unconditional peace talks with its Arab neighbors, it always has refused to even consider negotiations over territory and sovereignty with Palestinians.

“It is our conviction that a truly open moment for peace exists in the Middle East and that the United States has an indispensable role to play in the peace process which has moved us to write this statement,” said the committee, made up of Archbishop Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles, Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New York and Bishop William Keeler of Baltimore.

The bishops urged Arab states to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, a step that the Vatican has refused to take itself.