Holy Land: Latin Patriarchate condemns escalation of violence in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

In a statement Catholic church leaders in the Holy Land have condemned yesterday's killings in Jerusalem and appealed for peace. They write:

On 18 November, in the early morning hours, a synagogue of Jerusalem was the target of an attack during which four Jews were cruelly killed, while praying, and eight others were injured of whom four seriously. The two attackers were killed on the spot. A day before, a Palestinian bus driver was found hanged inside an Israeli bus. Patriarch Fouad Twal, and his Vicar in Jerusalem, Mgr Shomali, worried about the deterioration of the situation, condemn strongly the violence and call for a quick political solution.

“ We are deeply saddened by the escalation of violence in Jerusalem “ underscored Mgr Shomali. “We condemn every act of violence and we call on Israelis and Palestinians for mutual respect, to work together so that a political solution could be found to the conflict. This vicious circle of violence, of counter-violence, of reprisals is seriously detrimental to the peace process”.

From his side the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Fouad Twal emphatically “condemns violence, as well as the reasons that lead to violence”. He called for a continuous joint action to look for peace through a political solution by tackling the deep roots of the conflict. “Extremists should not be given any chance, nor should they be given the last word”.

A visit of Heads of Churches of Jerusalem to the Synagogue of Har Nof was scheduled for later today, as a sign of solidarity for the victims and their families.