Churches across five separate continents have joined churches in Palestine and Israel to focus on bringing about peace in the war-torn region.

|TOP|Fifty people from eight countries gathered in Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in a solidarity visit last week, and they were joined by other supporters around the world.

The visit that took place from March 12-19 and the worldwide efforts were all part of an International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel advocacy initiative, which was organised by the World Council of Churches (WCC).

The week-long initiative was launched with a worship service in Jerusalem, where Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah stated that freedom for the Palestinians and security for Israelis are not contradictory notions.

Sabbah said, “We address our appeal to both peoples: Israelis, in search of your security and permanent peace, we love you all. Palestinians, in search of your freedom and dignity, we love you all. Both of you are capable of loving each other. The language of violence has replaced so far, for too long a time, this language of love.”

Also during the week a conference was held in London, organised by the Middle East Forum of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and Christian Aid. In addition to this a seminar was held in the UN Church Centre in New York, as well as a worship service in Cape Town's St George's Cathedral, and a symposium on morally responsible investment in the Netherlands.

In London, the principal of Bethlehem Bible College, Dr Bishara Awad, was joined by Rev. Kamal Hanna Bathish, Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem, and Rev. Riah Abu el Assal, Anglican bishop in Jerusalem. Together they addressed a large number of delegates from UK churches, civil society and government personnel.

|AD|Rev. Michael Langrish, bishop of Exeter said, “This is not a one-off, but part of a strategy of awareness in our churches. I trust that those gathered here will not give up.”

Also in the US, past "ecumenical accompaniers" addressed international, church and UN participants at the New York seminar. Israel-Palestine was also on the agenda of the Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Peace with Justice held in Washington DC, which brought together politicians, theologians and students from across the country.

In Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the programme included a visit to the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem - home to 5000 Palestinian refugees, and to a village close to Hebron which has experienced repeated attacks by Israeli settlers.

As a conclusion to the week, a candlelit vigil for peace was held next to the separation wall at Qalandiya, close to Ramallah.

Bob Tobin, a US member of the group, said, “The main impact was to see vividly the severe problems that Palestinians are facing each day. Newcomers to the situation were in tears from what they saw. Members [of the group] who had visited previously were startled by how much negative change had taken place under the continuing occupation.”

Dutch visitors stated: “Today we depart to the Netherlands with a sense of urgency and concern.”

In a March 20th statement to their government the group said, “What we have encountered here cannot be called other than catastrophic.”

It urged the government to “take concrete and effective measures to protect the human dignity and the rights of the Palestinians, thereby contributing to the preconditions for a just peace.”

The statement added: “The protection of the rights of the Palestinians is a necessary precondition for peace. This can be done without negatively affecting the special relationships with Israel. To the contrary, an end of the injustice is also in the interest of the security and the existence of Israel.”

Those participating in the joint advocacy initiative were: Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) of the East Jerusalem YMCA and the YWCA of Palestine, the Sabeel Center, South African Council of Churches (SACC), Pax Christi International, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) (USA), the Middle East Forum of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and Christian Aid (UK), and Work Group-Turning Point, Kirken in Actie and ICCO (Netherlands).