Prelate discusses Kerry’s visit to Israel
April 12, 2013
Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali of Jerusalem has discussed US Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent visit to Israel.
“On one hand, I expect that the efforts of John Kerry will lead to frustration, as was the case after dozens of visits by politicians before him,” said Bishop Shomali. “On the other hand, we are driven by a positive interior hope. We do not know when peace will come, but we know it will come one day. Our prayer (Christians as also non-Christians) tends toward this objective and we recognize the role of politicians as mediators.”
Bishop Shomali predicted that “the Palestinian Authority will not in any way renew a violent uprising. A third intifada would destroy any chance of peace.”
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Posted by: Bernadette -
Apr. 30, 2013 11:53 PM ET USA
The Journalist is 100% correct. Israel keeps taking away land and making settlements. The poor Christians who are, yes, Arabs, are caught in the middle. They do NOT think of their ethnicity first, they are very Catholic. The Franciscans are there for years trying to help with jobs, education, housing. The majority Muslims voted in a radical govt. and they are suffering for this but the Israeli govt. is intransigent.
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Posted by: Defender -
Apr. 13, 2013 1:29 PM ET USA
The "stolen" land is whose land? The was no official Palestinian state when the Egyptians and Syrians attempted to squash Israel. I'm surprised that Israel gave up anything after being attacked so many times. As for the militant Islamic "governments" that "run" things, they can't even control the launching of rockets into Israel and the killings that continue and are glorified by Palestinian TV. The Christians are being forced out by the Muslims daily, look at Bethlehem if you need an example.
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Apr. 12, 2013 7:01 PM ET USA
From our last visit to Israel, I know that the Palestinian Catholic community wants peaceful coexistence, but the Israelis continue to steal land for settlements, so that the implementation of a two-state solution is moving from difficult towards impossible. The intransigence is 90% on the side of the Zionists, and the Christians are caught in the middle between them and the increasing number of Palestinian Muslims who are wondering if there is a nonviolent solution. Pray!!
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Posted by: Defender -
Apr. 12, 2013 11:02 AM ET USA
The problem continues to be that most Catholic clerics in the region are Palestinian Arabs. They think of their nationality first and being Catholic second. We have the same problem in this country: American Catholic instead of Catholic American. As for the Palestinian Authority (or any of Islamic groups), saying there will be no violence is a lot different than reality has proven.
