UK/HOLY LAND: Bishop makes plea for peace to UK Parliamentarians
A Christian leader from the Holy Land has appealed to UK parliamentarians, calling for a “courageous spirit of leadership” to bring about peace.
At a packed cross-party meeting yesterday (Tuesday, 1st April) in the UK Parliament, Bishop William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine, described the impact of the violence since 7th October 2023 on the lives of people in the Holy Land, especially West Bank and Gaza.
Bishop Shomali – who was visiting the UK as a guest of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) – said: “My intention is not to advocate for one side against the other or to discuss the injustices and crimes committed in this land called holy.”
The prelate appealed to history, calling on present-day political leaders to show the same “courageous spirit of leadership” exhibited by Egyptian President Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to bring peace to the region.
The bishop said: “When President Anwar Sadat came to Jerusalem, he delivered a historic and powerful speech, advocating for peace between Egypt and Israel. Against all odds, it was achieved.
“Similarly, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, after years of conflict with neighbouring Arab nations, sought to establish peace with Jordan. Once again, peace was secured.
“Tragically, both leaders paid the ultimate price, sacrificing their lives for the sake of reconciliation, as extremists rejected their vision of harmony.”
At the meeting, chaired by Sir Edward Leigh MP, Bishop Shomali stressed the humanitarian crisis facing families in the West Bank and Gaza.
He said the conflict has left the community with “a feeling of hopelessness” in the face of widespread unemployment, travel restrictions and food shortages.
The bishop outlined the conditions in the West Bank, where 50 percent of the Palestinian population are unemployed, and in Bethlehem this rate is even higher as tourism and pilgrimage have collapsed.
He said: “Before the war, 160,000 Palestinians worked in Israel, bringing home millions of shekels daily. After the war on October 7th, work permits were stopped except for a tiny number.
“I receive calls almost every day from Christians in Bethlehem asking, not for money or food, but for work permits. It saddens me to answer that we are not allowed more. After a week, the same people write again, desperately asking for the same permits.
“Our church is allowed to get only 300 permits for our workers. Other churches have similar or fewer numbers for their employees, but this is far below what is needed.”
He also outlined the difficulties in moving around Palestinian territory as there are now more than 900 checkpoints across the West Bank.
The prelate said: “These [checkpoints] significantly impact daily life for Palestinians, restricting movement and making it difficult to access work, healthcare, and education.
“Many sick people miss their appointments in Jerusalem hospitals due to delays or lack of permits. Additionally, flying checkpoints appear unpredictably, further complicating travel…
“A trip that normally takes two hours may take anywhere from three to eight hours due to the barriers, where hundreds of cars are lined up and waiting.”
Bishop Shomali also raised the situation at the Holy Family Church in Gaza, where 640 people are currently sheltering from the ongoing violence.
The bishop highlighted that during the ceasefire, the Latin Patriarchate was able to provide food to the Holy Family Church, feeding Christian and Muslims alike to prevent widespread starvation, but these aid deliveries have now stopped because of the renewed violence and blockade.
He said: “The Latin Patriarchate, with the support of international donors, was able to deliver around…food to Gaza parishes and their neighbours during the difficult time of starvation.”
Also speaking at the event was John Pontifex, Head of Press and Public Affairs at ACN (UK), who described how since the crisis began in October 2023 the charity provided food, medicine, pastoral support and psychological help for people in trauma and on the breadline.
ACN is one of the biggest contributors of help channelled through the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Essential to ACN’s help is selling crosses, cribs and other religious artefacts carved from olive wood, providing much-need income for Christian families in the West Bank.