Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Statements and actions from the global church and ecumenical family

Anglican Cathedral, Christchurch
New Zealand and Christian World Service

"The Anglican Cathedral in the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand and Christian World Service organised a Prayer Vigil for Palestine-Israel on Friday, April 19.

Concerned about the ever-deteriorating situation, staff of both organizations prepared a programme, which started at gam in the morning with a reading.

Christian World Service had contacted the MECC-DSPR partners, who sent messages and prayers, which were used, with others, for the readings. These were repeated every hour, and at 12 noon, when a half-hour service was held.

At 11 am the Bellringers of the Cathedral rang several peals in memory of Samir Ibrahim Salman, the bellringer at the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, who was shot by an Israeli sniper.

The vigil continued until 6pm when a final reading was given.

People visiting the Cathedral during the day could light a candle, sign a petition and contribute to the relief fund for Palestine being run by Christian World Service. Donations to this fund are channelled through ACT International (Action by Churches Together).

(Text of the Petition signed by visitors to the Cathedral)

A Call for Peace

We pray for peace in the Holy Land.

We are People called to express our concerns for peace in Israel and Palestine.

  • We believe that one of the primary outcomes of negotiations in the Middle East must be a viable Palestinian state living in peace alongside the state of Israel. For a Palestinian state to be viable and for Israel to be secure, Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza must end. All Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Territories must cease.
  • We believe in the vision of a shared Jerusalem as the heritage, hope and home of two peoples and three religions. Jerusalem should be a shared, open city
  • a sign of peace and a symbol of reconciliation for the Abrahamic faiths.
  • We call for an immediate end to the cycle of violence. We support a negotiated agreement for an Israeli-Palestinian-Arab peace based on international law.
  • We strongly support the presence of international observers as one immediate means of discouraging further violence between Palestinians and Israelis.
  • We urge our country's leaders to do all in their power to prepare the road for a just and durable peace.

    This petition will be handed to Member of Parliament for Christchurch Central, Tim Barnett"

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