US prelate laments rocket attacks on Israel, security wall that harms Christian families
November 09, 2012
Lamenting recent actions by both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the chairman of the US bishops' justice-and-peace committee called for strong US leadership in forging peace in the region.
“The recent barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza into Southern Israel represents a continuing pattern of morally unjustifiable uses of indiscriminate force against civilians,” said Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines. “They spread fear among Israeli families and damage the Palestinian cause by undercutting the trust necessary for negotiations.”
“Israeli occupation and security policies are also undermining the possibility of a two-state solution,” he continued. “A recent statement of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land expressing great concern over the route of the Israeli-Palestinian separation barrier in the Cremisan Valley is a vivid case in point. The State of Israel plans to re-route the separation barrier through the Cremisan Valley, which will harm 58 Christian families whose livelihoods and living conditions depend on these lands.”
The “USCCB supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an end of indefensible rocket attacks in southern Israel, and a reversal of Israeli policies, like those proposed in the Cremisan Valley, that undermine a just resolution of the conflict,” Bishop Pates added.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
