A6
FAITH
East Oregonian
Friday, March 22, 2019
U.S. abruptly endorses Israel’s Golan sovereignty in big shift
By MATTHEW LEE
and DEB RIECHMANN
Associated Press
JERUSALEM — Presi-
dent Donald Trump abruptly
declared Thursday the U.S.
will recognize Israel’s sov-
ereignty over the disputed
Golan Heights, a major shift
in American policy that
gives Israeli Prime Min-
ister Benjamin Netanyahu
a political boost a month
before what is expected to
be a close election.
The administration has
been considering recog-
nizing Israel’s sovereignty
over the strategic highlands,
which Israel captured from
Syria in 1967, for some time
and Netanyahu had pressed
the matter with visiting Sec-
retary of State Mike Pompeo
just a day earlier.
U.S. and Israeli officials
said Wednesday they had
not expected a decision until
next week, when Netanyahu
is to visit the U.S.
But in a tweet that
appeared to catch many
by surprise, Trump said
the time had come for the
United States to take the
step, which Netanyahu
warmly welcomed as a
“miracle” on the Jewish hol-
iday of Purim.
“After 52 years it is
time for the United States
to fully recognize Israel’s
Sovereignty over the Golan
Heights, which is of criti-
cal strategic and security
importance to the State of
Israel and Regional Stabil-
Pool Image via AP/Jim Young
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, touches the stones of the
Western Wall during his visit Thursday to the site in Jerusalem’s Old City.
ity!” Trump tweeted.
The U.S. will be the first
country to recognize Israeli
sovereignty over the Golan,
which the rest of the inter-
national community regards
as disputed territory occu-
pied by Israel whose sta-
tus should be determined
by negotiations between
Israel and Syria. Attempts
to bring Israel and Syria to
the table have failed. It was
not immediately clear how a
U.N. peacekeeping force in
the Golan might be affected
by the U.S. move. That
force’s mandate expires at
the end of June.
There had been signals a
decision was coming. Last
week, in its annual human
rights report, the State
Department dropped the
phrase “Israeli-occupied”
from the Golan Heights
section, instead calling it
“Israeli-controlled.”
Pompeo had brushed
questions about the change
aside, insisting even ear-
lier Thursday that there was
no change in policy. How-
ever, in comments to report-
ers ahead of a Purim dinner
with Netanyahu and his wife
at their Jerusalem home,
Pompeo hailed the shift.
“Tonight,
President
Trump made the deci-
sion to recognize that that
hard-fought real estate, that
important place, is proper
to be a sovereign part of the
state of Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu,
who
is
embroiled in a fierce
re-election campaign ahead
of April 9 voting, smiled
broadly while delivering his
own remarks.
“We have the miracle of
Purim,” he said. “Thank you
President Trump.”
Netanyahu has for weeks
been stepping up longstand-
ing Israeli requests for the
U.S. and others to recognize
Israel’s sovereignty over
the Golan. He has bolstered
Israel’s traditional argu-
ment that the area has for
all practical purposes been
fully integrated into Israel
by accusing Iran of trying
to infiltrate terrorists from
Syria into the plateau.
“At a time when Iran
seeks to use Syria as a plat-
form to destroy Israel, Pres-
ident Trump boldly recog-
nizes Israeli sovereignty
over the Golan Heights,”
Netanyahu tweeted.
Trump’s announcement
came as Pompeo was wrap-
ping up a two-day visit to
Jerusalem during which
he lauded warm ties with
Israel, met with Netanyahu
on at least three separate
occasions and promised to
step up pressure on Iran.
Pompeo’s events with
Netanyahu included a visit
to the Western Wall that
made him the highest-rank-
ing U.S. official to visit the
Jewish holy site with any
Israeli leader and appeared
to further signal the Trump
administration’s support for
Israel’s control of the con-
tested city. Trump has rec-
ognized Jerusalem as Isra-
el’s capital and moved the
U.S. Embassy there from
Tel Aviv, prompting the Pal-
estinians to sever ties with
the administration.
FAITH BRIEFLY
Frigid fun run/walk
brings in diaper donations
Pendleton churches
celebrate Lent
HERMISTON — Diapers and more dia-
pers — and baby wipes, too — were donated
during the Diaper Dash.
Despite the lingering snow and ice, the
fifth annual event drew 134 participants
who donated 7,941 diapers. Entry fee for the
frigid 5K and 10K walk/run was a package
or box of diapers. Even after the March 2
event, which was coordinated by the Herm-
iston Church of the Nazarene, additional
donations came in.
Dawn Kennison-Kerrigan, who helps in
coordinating the event, and Rev. Eric Fritz
said the church received a shipment of 1,002
diapers and 1,080 baby wipes from members
of the military who heard about the effort.
Also, a number of boxes were taken directly
to TruCare Pregnancy Resource Center by a
couple of ladies who signed up for the Dia-
per Dash and then were unable to attend.
The donations are distributed to those in
need in the community — to parents, sin-
gle moms and dads, grandparents and local
agencies. The effort, organizers said, is a
practical way to help ease a burden in times
PENDLETON — Weekly ecumenical
worship services in Pendleton are sched-
uled on Wednesdays during Lent.
The special services are a combined
effort of several faith-based bodies. Dif-
ferent Pendleton churches host.
“The intent is that our varied tra-
ditions can better understand and
appreciate one another,” said Rev. Char-
lotte Wells of Episcopal Church of the
Redeemer. “The services are part of the
larger Lenten hope for greater connection
and faith in God.”
The upcoming worship services are
6 p.m., and include a soup supper. The
dates and locations are:
•March 27 at First Presbyterian Church,
201 S.W. Dorion Ave.
•April 3 at Episcopal Church of the
Redeemer, 241 S.E. Second St.
•April 10 at Peace Lutheran Church, 210
N.W. Ninth St.
For more information, contact Wells
at redeemerchurch1897@gmail.com or
541-276-2616.
BAHA’I FAITH
IN PENDLETON
“See ye no strangers, rather see all men
as friends, for love and unity come hard
when ye fi x your gaze on otherness.”
– Abdu’l Baha
Please come visit with us at
The Baha’i Center:
1015 SE Court Place
Everyone invited!
Sunday Devotions @ 11:00am
Everyday Devotions, 11am - 1pm
Thursday Seminars on World Religions @ 7pm
Contributed photo
Despite lingering snow and 24 degree temperatures, 134 people braved the elements March
2 to participate in the Diaper Dash coordinated by the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene.
of need.
For more about projects coordinated by
the Hermiston church, contact office man-
ager Gabrielle Fritz at 541-567-3677, herm-
istonnaz@gmail.com or visit www.hermis-
tonnazarene.org.
Worship
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School -
10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Open Hearted...
Open Minded
SUNDAYS
Morning Celebration - 10am
Morning Kids Place - 10am
Evening - 6pm
Adult - Study
Youth - Small Group
Kids - Rangers & Girl’s Ministries
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Holy Communion Noon
Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group
All Are Welcome
401 Northgate, Pendleton
Celebration of
of Worship
Celebration
Worship
Sundays 10:00 am
Youth: 0-6th grade
THURSDAYS
Midweek Service
Midweek Service
Celebrate Recovery - 6pm
Celebration Place - Kids - 6pm
The Landing - Teens - 6pm
Wednesdays 6:00 pm
Youth: 0-6th grade
Overcomer’s
Outreach
Jr./Sr. High
WEEKLY
Offi ce 541-276-5358 M-F, 8:30-12:30
www.fccpendleton.org
To share your worship times
call 541-278-2678
or on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pendletonoregonbahais/
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
Sunday School: 9:30am
Worship: 10:40am
Fellowship to follow
COMMUNITY
(541) 276-9360 or visit us at
www.pendletonbahais.com
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Behind These Stone Walls Beat the Hearts
of Some of the Warmest Most Sincere,
Most Caring People in Pendleton.
We Invite You to Come Get Acquainted!
’
Groups For All Ages
Pastor Sharon Miller
AN ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH
1911 SE Court Ave.
541.276.6417 • pendletonfi rst.com
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
Pastor Sharon Miller
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Sunday Worship.........9:00 AM
Bible Study......10:00 AM
Red Lion Hotel
( Oregon Trail Room )
www.faithpendleton.org
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
Join
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
Seventh-Day
Adventist
Church
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
Sunday worship at
11:00 AM
Pastor Michael Smith
LCMC
420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR
541-481-6132
Faith Center Church
Worshipping God
Loving People
108 S. Main • 541-276-9569
Pastor Jeff Geesey
Worship Service: 10:30am
pendletonfaithcenter.church
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or
Website for More Information
P eace L utheran C hurch
210 NW 9th, Pendleton
ELCA
Join us Sundays
9:30 am Sunday Worship
10:00 am Sunday Worship
11am Fellowship & Adult Class
9am Sunday School
~Come and be at Peace ~
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
PENDLETON
LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
Sunday Service: 10am & 6pm
Tuesday Kingdom Seekers: 7pm
Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm
We off er: Sunday School • Sign Language
Interpreters • Nursery • Transportation • & more!
First United
Methodist
Church
Pendleton
352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton OR
Sunday Worship 9am • 541-276-2616
Worship Broadcast on KUMA 1290 @ 11am
Worship Livestream at
www.facebook.com/FUMCPendleton/
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
The Salvation Army
Center for Worship & Service
Sunday Worship Service
9:30 - Sunday School
10:30 - Worship Service
Wednesday Bible Study
Pastor Dan Satterwhite
541.377.4252
5:30 Family Fellowship Meal • 6:00 Bible Study
417 NW 21st St. • Pendleton, OR 97801
www.facebook.com/
PendletonLighthouseChurch
150 SE Emigrant
(541) 276-3369
COME AS YOU ARE
Community
Presbyterian Church
541-289-4535
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Tom Inch, Pastor
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
(First United Methodist Church)
191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
1909 SW Athens Ave.,
Pendleton
Come join us for Worship
at 10:45am on Sunday
541-966-8912