Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem says "comprehensive solution is needed for Middle East"

The Latin Patriarch, Fouad TwalThese are dramatic times again for Gaza. After three days of low intensity Palestinian raids and Israeli retaliations, after the killing of the head of Hamas’ military wing this afternoon and a series of air raids, the war in the Gaza Strip has entered a much bloodier phase, reminiscent of that witnessed in January 2009.

At least ten deaths have been recorded in Gaza. Two of these victims were young girls.
 
The situation is being followed with great concern by Christians in the Holy Land who have a small community in the Strip that is exposed, like all others, to violence. 

Today, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, published a broad ranging interview on the Patriarchate’s website, in which he deals with questions that remain open. The first question is about the tensions which were already running high in Gaza before this afternoon’s attacks. “The situation was never calm or peaceful,” Fouad Twal commented. 

These attacks are part of a terrible overall reality. We are experiencing a big crisis, marked by smaller crises. There is only one way to resolve it: a comprehensive solution that leads to a peace that is real and just for each of the parties involved. The problem is that there appears to be no prospect of this happening: we live in the worry of an uncertain future.”
 
In the interview, the Patriarch was asked what he expected to happen in light of Barack Obama’s re-election as President of the U.S., taking into account also Palestines intention to present a request to the UN for recognition as a member State, on 29 November. 

Fouad Twal answered: “All I ask of Obama is to remember his first speech in Cairo in June 2009. We would be grateful to him if he could keep his word regarding what he promised the Palestinian State that day. Now that he has been re-elected, I hope he will have more courage to see reality as it truly is and to adopt necessary measures. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I - as would the Pope and about a hundred or so countries -would like to see two independent States living side by side with a lasting peace agreement.”
 
In the interview, Twal spoke about other unresolved issues too: the Syrian situation with the thousands of refugees and the concerns for Egypt. “It is difficult to deal with all these situations and picture better conditions on the horizon - the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said . Things change at an incredible rate: what is said today could easily change tomorrow. But let us not despair. We need to remember that we belong to the Church of the Resurrection but also to the Church of Calvary. The more the going gets tough, the more we need to remain rooted in the faith.”