The Most Revd SAMIR KAFITY, D.D.
P.O. Box 19122 Jerusalem 91191
Tel: (02) 271670 (02) 282096
Fax: (972-2) 273847

To:

The Prime Minister of Israel, Mr Shimon Peres
The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Yasser Arafat
The Primates of the Anglican Communion

From:

The Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East

For the second successive Sunday in Jerusalem the dawning of the day was suddenly and violently disrupted. The whole world was able to witness the bloody and terrible carnage effected by those who seek to sabotage an increasingly fragile peace process. I join in condemning such brutal actions and activities by all sides and groups. My heart reaches out in compassion and sorrow to the families of those who were killed, to the injured and to the people of this city who are by no means strangers to violence and bloodshed. Grief, anguish, shock, anger and despair are not new experiences in the lives of Jerusalem's citizens. The story of this city, sacred to all women and men of faith, is punctuated by such moments of awfulness and destruction. This latest act of brutality cannot and must not be allowed to deflect the Palestinian and Israeli peoples from a determination to work out a just, peaceful and comprehensive settlement of their conflict.

Inevitably and humanly, positions will be hardened and already strident voices are demanding justice. But justice is neither retaliation nor revenge. My own people are equally devastated and numbed by the events of this past week. Yet we must not be deterred from the quest for true justice and peace. We would be less than faithful if we were to lose heart and be discouraged at this critical moment in the history of the peoples of this land. The purposes of God are never thwarted by those who distort truth and attack and destroy the dignity of the Creator's image in his creatures. In this very city, the hill of Calvary and an Empty Tomb witness to the power of inexhaustible Love. In the name of Love I call upon all peoples of faith and good will to urge that the journey of peace not be disrupted by evil intent and that you pray with us and for the peace of Jerusalem.

The Most Revd Samir Kafity
Jerusalem
4th March 1996