UK: Catholic, Anglican prelates meet with Israeli ambassador
July 26, 2013
Bishop Declan Lang of Clifton, chairman of the English Catholic bishops’ Department for International Affairs, and Anglican Bishop Michael Langrish met with Daniel Taub, the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, on July 24.
During the “timely and challenging” meeting, the prelates “discussed the grave problems confronting the peoples of the Holy Land, including the rise of extremism, settlement building, and the impact of the separation barrier on communities such as Cremisan,” the prelates said afterwards. The Cremisan is a reference to the government’s rerouting of the Israeli West Bank barrier, accompanied by the seizure of land from a Salesian convent and dozens of families.
“The encounter also provided an opportunity to talk frankly and openly with Ambassador Taub about the prospects for a negotiated settlement following last Friday’s announcement by US Secretary of State John Kerry that Israeli and Palestinian leaders had reached an agreement that establishes a basis for resuming direct final status negotiations,” the prelates added. “We very much hope and pray that both sides take advantage of this opportunity and refrain from actions that might see this chance lost.”
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Posted by: geoffreysmith1 -
Jul. 26, 2013 6:41 AM ET USA
What business is it of Bishop Lang what the Israelis do to protect their people from these murderous attacks by Palestinian terrorists? Lang should get on with the job of directing the affairs of his diocese, and leave politics to those who are better qualified to handle such matters as the measures taken by Israel to defend her borders. It is only to be expected that some people will be inconvenienced by this defensive operation - forced upon Israel by Muslim thugs.
