Outgoing director says peace in Holy Land more elusive than before

Published: 2004-02-26

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The outgoing regional director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine said there were fewer chances for Israeli-Palestinian peace than when he arrived seven years ago. "When I came here there was much more hope for a possible peace," said Father Guido Gockel. "At present there are very few people who think there will be a solution in the near future. People (on both sides) are discouraged. They feel like they are on a roller coaster which goes on and on, and they can't stop it," he said. "I don't think there is a will to bring this to a conclusion on all sides -- including the United States and Europe," he said. Father Gockel is leaving the Holy Land to serve as assistant secretary-general of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association in New York. He also will serve as the associate national secretary of the association's U.S. office. As he prepared to leave his post, he said he was "very satisfied" to have been able to "show the face of the church" to Palestinians during the Palestinian uprising and ensuing troubled times.

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