Concerning bad treatment at Ben Gurion Airport
 

Jerusalem on January 22nd 2001

 Honorable Ehud Barak

Prime Minister

Prime Minister’s Office

Jerusalem
 

Subject: Bad treatment at Ben Gurion Airport
 

            Dear Mr. Barak,
 

            Salaam and greetings from our Lutheran Church,

            On January 11th, 2001 when I was at Ben Gurion Airport on my way to the Norway, I was treated in a humiliating way by security personal of the Airport. Although I showed them my VIP-card, issued by the State of Israel, and the letter of recommendation issued by Dr. Nissim Dana from the Ministry of Religious affairs – Department for the Christian Communities (couples attached)! Nevertheless was ordered to be checked in a humiliating way.
 

This is not the first time I was maltreated at Ben Gurion Airport. Letters of protests were previously sent to Ministry of Religious Affairs – Department for Christian Communities and to the acting Minister of Religious Affairs himself (copies attached) but to no avail.
 

I do strongly protest against this treatment. I do hope that such malpractices would stop forever, and that church leaders would be finally treated with some respect and dignity, a self-evident treatment for any human being.
 

With all my prayers for a just, comprehensive and durable peace for all of us, Israelis and Palestinians, I remain.
 

Yours sincerely

Bishop Munib Younan
The Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem

Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church – Jerusalem
 

Cc: The Rt. Bishop Christian Krause, President –LWR, Geneva

       The very Rev. Dr, Ishmael Noko, General Secretary – LWF, Geneva

       The Heads of Christian Communities in Jerusalem

       Mr. Yossi Beilin, Acting Minister (Religious Affairs)

       Dr. Nissim Dana, Director, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dpt. Christian Communities.