Press Releases30 Dec 08

Joint Statement on Gaza from the Archbishops of Armagh

JOINT STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN GAZA FROM
ARCHBISHOP ALAN HARPER AND CARDINAL SEAN BRADY

The Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Cardinal Seán Brady, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, today issue the following statement:

As pilgrims together for peace, earlier this year we visited the land of the Holy One. It is, therefore, with distress and deepening concern for all innocent victims that we have followed the unfolding tragedy of Gaza. We call upon the authorities in both Israel and Gaza immediately to disengage and cease all hostilities to enable a permanent ceasefire to be negotiated. Only when violence has ceased will it be possible to begin to negotiate a peace that will last.

We call upon all people of faith to pray for all caught up in the conflict. We also call upon the international community and particularly the United States and the European Union to bring maximum influence to bear to end all violence immediately and to create conditions that will lead to a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

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