(ACNS) Jerusalem – During recent weeks, the three Abrahamic Faiths have observed their Holy Seasons with a sense of peace and goodwill. Therefore, we are greatly grieved by the severity of the ongoing military operations in Gaza that are occurring in heavily populated areas and impacting the civilian population.
As a Diocese with well over a century of an unbroken commitment to the well being and peace of the community in Gaza City through our Al Ahli Arab Hospital, we are both stunned and saddened by the events unfolding in Gaza.
The heavy loss of Palestinian lives and the serious wounds and injuries to many hundreds of innocent bystanders require the immediate cessation of hostilities for the well being and safety of both the Palestinian and Israeli communities, and especially for Gaza and the nearby Israeli population centers. The gravity of the situation threatens to engulf this entire region and we ask the Palestinians and Israelis to return to active negotiations for the well being and safety of both communities.
Read it carefully and read it all.
What is an ‘Abrahamic faith’? Abraham’s faith was in Jesus Christ (John 8.56).
God Bless Bishop Dawani and the people of the Diocese of Jerusalem. He spoke at our convention this fall. He is a man of deep faith and integrity. Let us all be in fervent prayer for the people of Gaza and for the cessation of hostilities. If we think it is challenging to be the Church here imagine being in the Diocese of Jerusalem.
Hmmm. This is dated December 30, 2008. I guess the bishop couldn’t get to a computer to condemn the Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli noncombatants until now.