As a Christian Catholic who agrees with the Pope on the importance of freedom of religion and who believes in the necessity of peace, I am surprised that His Holiness has not made this trip before now. Peace between Israel and Palestine is the most important issue in world affairs today. Most countries, including members of the Arab League, Britain, the European Union, and the United States are deeply involved with, and concerned with the slow process of reaching an agreement between the representatives of Israel and those of the Palestinian people. Shining for its absence is the presence of the United Nation’s representatives in the mediation of the conflict.
There have never been better signs indicating the possibility of a long-term peace agreement than we can see now. I am not referring to the public statements of spoke- persons for either side that have more to do with publicity than with logical analysis of the real problem. There is not only a renewed concern of world opinion about the inefficacy of war as a means to resolve international conflicts, but there is a new age of “pragmatism” that offers many more possibilities of an agreement that the empty gestures and faked smiles that have accompanied the process in the last 20 years.
The two parties directly involved in the conflict know it, and the world looks upon this unnecessary conflict with sadness and reproach. There is no time to review legal documents and blame each other. Now is the time to recognize that war is a waste of money and moral reserve. History has taught us that silence at the suffering of many is unjust, immoral, impractical, and wasteful.
I wish all the God fearing, good willing people with something to say or do about this conflict to say it now, before it may be too late.
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