The Catholic Bishops on Israel and the Palestinians

David Goldman’s Disappearing Middle Eastern Christians, Disappointing Bishops , has stirred up a vigorous discussion already. For those who are interested, the Vatican has issued the final statement of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops. Titled An Appeal to Safeguard the Faith , it includes this on Israel:

We have evaluated the social situation and the public security in all our countries in the Middle East. We have taken account of the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the whole region, especially on the Palestinians who are suffering the consequences of the Israeli occupation: the lack of freedom of movement, the wall of separation and the military checkpoints, the political prisoners, the demolition of homes, the disturbance of socio-economic life and the thousands of refugees. We have reflected on the suffering and insecurity in which Israelis live. We have meditated on the situation of the holy city of Jerusalem. We are anxious about the unilateral initiatives that threaten its composition and risk to change its demographic balance. With all this in mind, we see that a just and lasting peace is the only salvation for everyone and for the good of the region and its peoples.

That is from the section on “Challenges and Aspirations.” In the next to last section, “Appeal to the International Community,” the bishops declare:

The citizens of the countries of the Middle East call upon the international community, particularly the United Nations conscientiously to work to find a peaceful, just and definitive solution in the region, through the application of the Security Council’s resolutions and taking the necessary legal steps to put an end to the occupation of the different Arab territories.

The Palestinian people will thus have an independent and sovereign homeland where they can live with dignity and security. The State of Israel will be able to enjoy peace and security within their internationally recognized borders. The Holy City of Jerusalem will be able to acquire its proper status, which respects its particular character, its holiness and the religious patrimony of the three religions: Jewish, Christian and Muslim. We hope that the two-State-solution might become a reality and not a dream only.

A few links of relevance: Israel slams “political attacks by Catholic bishops ; and a report that the Vatican Secretary of State ordered parts of a speech critical of Islam removed;