An appeal, to "find a way to put an end to all violence, so as to free all of us from this hellish cycle of violence, of which we are all the victims", has been made today "to the religious and political leaders of Israel" by the patriarchs Teophylus III, Michel Sabbah, Torkom Manooghian and the Custodian of the Holy Land, father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on behalf of all the leaders of the Churches of Jerusalem, just after the massacre in the rabbinic college that killed nine people. In a letter of condolence to the prime minister Olmert and to the Great Rabbinate, the Christian leaders reassert "their determination to work towards peace and the end of all violence. Only peace is necessary, and new ways must be found for this Land that was called Holy by the Almighty". At the same time, the Christian leaders of Jerusalem, in another letter, addressed to the Palestinian president Abu Mazen, express their "condolence for all the victims of Gaza. We share they write the tragedy with our people and with all those who are exposed to death and violence". They add an exhortation to the Palestinian President, that he may strive for "the unity of the Palestinian people" and, with the help of God, that he may "reach an agreement with the Israeli authorities to stop all violence and work towards peace". (dnr)
