In the speech President Obama delivered today in Cairo on America's relationship with Muslim communities around the world, he called for a just and peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by ensuring a secure homeland for Israel and statehood for the Palestinian people.
Catholic Relief Services applauds this message of peace for the Holy Land; a negotiated solution to this conflict has long been advocated by Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"The legitimate right of both Israelis and Palestinians to live securely and in peace, each in a homeland of their own, must be recognized and supported," said CRS President Ken Hackett. "Violence must be abandoned, rights recognized, obligations of previous agreements fulfilled, settlements stopped, the humanitarian crisis and lack of opportunity ended and Jerusalem shared by all faiths."
This vision of peace was shared by Pope Benedict XVI during his pilgrimage last month to the Holy Land.
"Allow me to make this appeal to all the people of these lands: No more bloodshed! No more fighting! No more terrorism! No more war!" the pope said.
"Let us break the vicious circle of violence. Let there be lasting peace based on justice, let there be genuine reconciliation and healing. Let it be universally recognized that the State of Israel has the right to exist, and to enjoy peace and security within internationally agreed borders. Let it be likewise acknowledged that the Palestinian people have a right to a sovereign independent homeland, to live with dignity and to travel freely. Let the two-state solution become a reality, not remain a dream."
Having supported humanitarian programs in the Holy Land for nearly 50 years, CRS believes a negotiated solution is the only way to end the growing humanitarian crisis there. We urge President Obama to provide a clear framework for an end to the conflict, help Israelis and Palestinians make the difficult decisions necessary to achieve lasting peace, and hold both parties to account when they fail to honor their commitments.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. For more information, please visit www.crs.org.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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