VATICAN, Jul 18, 01 (CWNews.com) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has suggested that the Christians of the Holy Land could play a crucial role in establishing peace there.
The Israeli leader, in an interview published in the Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana, spoke of the Christians of the Holy Land as "a bridge between communities." He said that they should follow the lead of Pope John Paul II, working for peace and discouraging hatred and violence. And he charged that the Palestinian Authority is engaged in encouraging violence-- especially among young people.
Sharon repeated to Famiglia Cristiana his insistence that peace talks could not be resumed until the Palestinian leadership ensures a complete stop to all acts of violence. "I hope that the resumption of dialogue will still be possible," he said. However, he continued, "faced with acts of violence and terrorism, the state of Israel has the right to self-defense-- just like any other country."
Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
18. juli 2001