CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF JERUSALEM APPEAL FOR PEACE

Zenit News Agency
March 11 2008
Italy

Ask for End to "Infernal Cycle" of Violence

JERUSALEM, MARCH 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The patriarchs and heads of
Churches in Jerusalem appealed for an end to the "infernal cycle"
of violence between Israel and the Palestinians that continues to
affect the Middle East.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch
Torkom Manooghian, the Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop
Michel Sabbah, and Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos
of the Holy Land, sent letters of condolence Friday to the Palestinian
and Israeli leaders after an escalation in violence killed more than
130 Palestinians and 5 Israelis.

Since late February, Israel has been launching an offensive to stop
the Islamist group Hamas from firing rockets into Israel. Israeli
officials have halted military operations since Wednesday after rocket
and mortar attacks launched from Gaza sharply dropped.

In the note to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas,
the religious leaders stated their hope to see "the unity of the
Palestinian people" restored.

The representatives of the Christian Churches offered their condolences
"for all the victims who have fallen and are still falling in this
wave of violence in Gaza."

The note said, "We know that you do not spare any effort in your
attempts to reach a comprehensive and just peace.

"Nevertheless, we urge you to do whatever possible to find rapid and
opportune ways to bring back the unity of the Palestinian people:
Heal all the wounds, in order that the tragedy of which all of us
are victims, today more than ever, will come to an end."

The leaders urged Abbas to work "in efficient ways to reach agreement
with the concerned Israeli authorities to stop all violence, so as
to work for the achievement of peace."

Aware of the "grave difficulties" of the current situation, they
expressed their hope that all involved will "work for the achievement
of peace."

Victims

In the note sent to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and to the
Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the patriarchs and heads of the Churches
in Jerusalem asked for "ways to put an end to all violence so as to
free all of us from the infernal cycle of violence of which we are
all victims."

After expressing their deep sorrow for the death of eight theology
students from the "Merkaz Harav Yeshiva" rabbinical school in Jerusalem
last Thursday, the leaders of the Christian Churches reiterated their
"determination to work for peace and for an end to all violence."

They wrote: "Only peace is needed and new ways must be found for the
land called to be holy by the Almighty for the Jewish people and for
the Palestinians.

"We pray that God will inspire all of us to submit to his ways in
order to reach a comprehensive and just peace with total security
for you and for all."