Thinking of two peoples

The Holy Land Coordination (HLC), the Coordination of the Bishops of North America and the EU for the Holy Land, are making a strong and convinced appeal for dialogue, tolerance and justice in the region. Their appeal to both Israelis and Palestinians is made in the final statement of their annual visit to the Holy Land, which was concluded in Jerusalem on 12 January. Since 1998, on the mandate of the Holy See, and with the organization of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the bishops of the HLC have in fact made a visit to the Holy Land in January every year, to bear witness to their Churches’ closeness to and solidarity with the local communities and to support them in their life and mission, made particularly difficult by the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.The long shadow of the conflict. The bishops of Canada, USA, France, Spain, Italy, Great Britain, the Scandinavian countries and Germany, in their final communiqué, issued to the press today, underline “the importance of the resumption of the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians” as hoped by Benedict XVI in his recent speech to the Diplomatic Corps, and ask “urgently for a negotiated agreement”. The bishops of the HLC also appeal “for creative, tolerant and courageous leadership that is also able to show forgiveness and humility and to promote peaceful coexistence”. “We have seen – says the communiqué – how occupation, insecurity, fear and frustration dominate the life of people in this land”. According to the HLC “being pro-Israel means being pro-Palestine, and thus being pro-justice for everyone. The result will be lasting peace”.Signs of hope. In the bishops’ statement “signs of hope” are not lacking, such as “the increase of pilgrims, the inter-religious cooperation seen in Galilee which sets an example for everyone, the housing projects of the Patriarchate and the Custodianship of the Holy Land, the humanitarian efforts in the field of education and culture being made by the Catholic organizations to support local communities, and the progress registered in the negotiations between Holy See and Israel for the Fundamental Agreement, which raises hopes of a speedy solution” to the outstanding problems. “The political leaders of the two nations have a need to show courage – concludes the statement – and thus fulfil the hopes of the majority to see the realization of a peaceful coexistence in fidelity to their identity as Jews, Christians and Muslims”.“Don’t abandon us!”. The final day of the Bishops’ visit to the Holy Land began very early with the final celebration presided over by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, in the patriarchal cathedral in Jerusalem. Twal, addressing the North American and European bishops, said: “the world has a need to know what is happening here. So recount what you have seen and heard during these days to your local churches, in freedom and truth”. “The Church of Jerusalem – he added – is continuing its Calvary. Every gesture, every sign of closeness and solidarity is for us a source of great joy and consolation”. “Over these last few days you have touched with your hands the living stones of the Holy Land”, said Twal, citing the visits of the HLC to Gaza, Nablus, Haifa and Ibillin. “Your presence among us has been a blessing and a reason to rejoice. Today I ask you not to abandon us. Help us to build a new horizon of mutual understanding and tolerance. We shall not forget even the slightest gesture of closeness and solidarity”.