The head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned the increasing violence that has hit the Middle East recently.
Dr Rowan Williams, who leads the 77-million Anglican worldwide Church expressed his alarm at the “spiral of violence, the vicious circle of attack and retaliation, that has developed over the last few days”.
He joins in a chorus of spiritual and political leaders around the world calling for an end to the atrocities.
The world’s most powerful political leaders struggled on Sunday to find ways to prevent the Middle East violence from expanding into an even more extensive war. As the world’s G8 leaders met, they urged Israel to show “utmost restraint” during the difficult time, and blamed Islamic militant group Hezbollah and Hamas for instigating the unfolding crisis, which has now been ongoing for nearly two weeks.
Writing to the Heads of Churches in the Lebanon, Dr Williams said, “I have been alarmed at the spiral of violence, the vicious circle of attack and retaliation, that has developed over the last few days.
“My prayers and sympathy are with the principal victims, the innocent civilians on both sides of the border, who now live in terror and are powerless to prevent the collective suffering at the hands of at the hands of Hizballah and the Israeli military.
”The distress felt at the destruction not only of life but also the infrastructure so painstakingly rebuilt after years of conflict will, I know, be acute and reinforce the sense of helplessness at being caught up in a wider regional struggle.”
Also this week the major Middle East-focused charitable NGO, BibleLands, has appealed to UK Christians to pray for an end to the escalating conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.
The Christian Charity, which works with disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the region, has received urgent prayer requests from its Project Partners on the ground.
Biblelands reveals it has been given first-hand accounts of the constant danger from air strikes and rocket attacks, and the blockades that threaten to sever vital supplies.
The Rev. Dr Riad Kassis, Principal of the Schneller School in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley reported to Biblelands: “Every hour, the situation worsens. So far we are safe, but trapped due to the bombing of roads and bridges to Beirut.
“It is not safe to travel by car as civilian vehicles are also targeted. Please join with us in prayer at this difficult time.”
In addition, the Church of Scotland has united with calls by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) demanding a halt to the Israeli violence in Gaza.
