Pope urges Israelis, Palestinians to end 'spiral of violence'

Published: 2008-03-03

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After recent fighting in Gaza and southern Israel left more than 100 people dead, Pope Benedict XVI urged Israelis and Palestinians to unilaterally and unconditionally end "this spiral of violence." "Only by showing an absolute respect for human life -- even that of the enemy -- can there be hope of lending a future of peace and coexistence to the younger generations of those people who, together, have their roots in the Holy Land," he said March 2 after praying the Angelus with people gathered in St. Peter's Square. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace talks with Israel after Israel launched an offensive against targets in the Gaza Strip. Israel said the offensive, which included a temporary invasion of ground troops, was meant to stop Palestinian militants from launching further rocket attacks against Israel. While Israeli ground troops were pulled out March 3, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, "We are in a state of war" and that further military action against militants in Gaza was likely. More than 100 people, mostly Palestinians, were killed in the fighting, which intensified in early March. The United Nations and the European Union accused Israel of using excessive force, while U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice traveled to the region March 3 to try to salvage an upcoming U.S.-sponsored peace initiative.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .