{"id":3248,"date":"2020-01-16T10:18:42","date_gmt":"2020-01-16T10:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familyofsites.bishopsconference.org.uk\/theholyland\/?p=3248"},"modified":"2020-01-16T10:24:20","modified_gmt":"2020-01-16T10:24:20","slug":"bishops-call-for-the-application-of-international-law-in-the-holy-land-to-enable-peace-and-political-progress-as-situation-worsens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familyofsites.bishopsconference.org.uk\/testsite\/bishops-call-for-the-application-of-international-law-in-the-holy-land-to-enable-peace-and-political-progress-as-situation-worsens\/","title":{"rendered":"Bishops call for the application of international law in the Holy Land to enable peace and political progress as situation worsens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bishops from across Europe and North America called on their \ngovernments to insist on the application of international law in Israel \nand Palestine, following their visit to the Holy Land this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bishops of the Holy Land Coordination, who visit the region every\n year in support of the local Church to promote dialogue and peace, said\n they were inspired by the enduring resilience of the people they met in\n Gaza, East Jerusalem and Ramallah despite the worsening situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, they echoed the local bishops\u2019 lament the international \ncommunity\u2019s failure to realise justice and peace in the land of Christ\u2019s\n birth. While the political solution had ultimately to be shaped by the \npeople of the Holy Land through dialogue, they said there was an urgent \nneed for the governments in their own countries in Europe, Canada and \nthe USA to play an essential part by: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insisting on the application of international law; following the Holy\n See\u2019s lead in recognising the State of Palestine; addressing the \nsecurity concerns of Israel and the right of all to live in safety; \nrejecting political or economic support for settlements and resolutely \nopposing acts of violence or abuses of human rights by any side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They concluded their communique with prayer for the peace of Jerusalem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Communique<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We must not ignore the voice of people in the Holy Land<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year we come to encounter and hear the people of the Holy Land.\n We are inspired by their enduring resilience and faith in a worsening \nsituation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their recent powerful message, the local Catholic Bishops lamented\n the international community\u2019s failure to help realise justice and peace\n here in the place of Christ\u2019s birth. Our governments must do more to \nmeet their responsibilities for upholding international law and \nprotecting human dignity. In some cases they have become actively \ncomplicit in the evils of conflict and occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The local Bishops also warned that people are facing further \n\u201cevaporation of hope for a durable solution\u201d. We have witnessed this \nreality first-hand, particularly how construction of settlements and the\n separation wall is destroying any prospect of two states existing in \npeace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same message, the local Bishops have sounded the alarm about \nliving conditions becoming \u201cmore and more unbearable\u201d. This is painfully\n clear in the West Bank where our sisters and brothers are denied even \nbasic rights including freedom of movement. In Gaza the political \ndecisions of all sides have resulted in the creation of an open-air \nprison, human rights abuses and a profound humanitarian crisis. We were \nwelcomed by families whose focus is now day-to-day survival and whose \naspirations have been reduced to bare essentials such as electricity and\n clean water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amid these circumstances we are moved by the sacrifice of religious \nsisters, lay people and priests who are reaching out with respect to \nevery side, in order to build a better future for all. They offer vital \nservices, especially education, job opportunities and care for the most \nvulnerable people. We give thanks for their witness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We encourage Christians in our own countries to pray for and support \nthis mission. The increase in people making pilgrimages to the Holy Land\n is encouraging and we call for those who come to ensure they encounter \nthe local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time we implore our governments to help build a new \npolitical solution rooted in human dignity for all. While this must \nultimately be shaped by the peoples of the Holy Land in dialogue, there \nis an urgent need for our countries to play their part by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n