CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- In a statement issued during a special session of the Human Rights Council, the Holy See urged an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations aimed at a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n\t\u201cThe Delegation of the Holy See reiterates its view that violence never pays. Violence will only lead to more suffering, devastation and death, and will prevent peace from becoming a reality,\u201d said Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi.<\/p>\n
\tThe archbishop \u2013 who serves as the Holy See\u2019s permanent observer at the United Nations office in Geneva \u2013 spoke July 23 during the 21st special session of the Human Rights Council addressing the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
\tAccording to reports, the fighting so far has killed 32 Israeli soldiers and two civilians, a Thai guest worker and more than 700 Palestinians, most of them civilians.<\/p>\n
\tThe Holy See statement recalled the words of Pope Francis, who on May 25 in Bethlehem called for intensified \u201cefforts and initiatives aimed at creating the conditions for a stable peace based on justice, on the recognition of the rights of every individual, and on mutual security.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe Pope also stressed at a June 8 prayer meeting for peace in the Vatican Gardens that \u201cwith violence, men and women will continue to live as enemies and adversaries, but with peace they can live as brothers and sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tIn his address, Archbishop Tomasi underscored that \u201cas the number of people killed, wounded, uprooted from their homes, continues to increase in the conflict between Israel and some Palestinian groups, particularly in the Gaza Strip, the voice of reason seems submerged by the blast of arms.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThis is an outcome of a culture of violence which \u201cwill not lead anywhere, not now, nor in the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cIn the long run, there can be no winners in the current tragedy, only more suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe Holy See permanent observer lamented that \u201cmost of the victims are civilians, who by international humanitarian law should be protected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe United Nations\u2019 estimate that 70 percent of Palestinians killed have been innocent civilians is \u201cjust as intolerable as the rockets and missiles directed indiscriminately toward civilian targets in Israel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cConsciences are paralyzed by a climate of protracted violence, which seeks to impose solutions through the annihilation of the other,\u201d he warned, but \u201cdemonizing others does not eliminate their right. The way to the future lies in recognizing our common humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tArchbishop Tomasi pointed to Pope Francis\u2019 appeal for the \u201ccourage to forge a peace which rests on the acknowledgment by all of the right of two States to exist and to live in peace and security within internationally recognized border.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe archbishop also appealed to \u201cfundamental human rights,\u201d including \u201cthe legitimate aspiration to security\u201d and the search for \u201cdecent living conditions, with access to the normal means of existence like medicine, water and jobs.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0
\n\t\u201cThe worsening situation in Gaza is an incessant reminder of the necessity to arrive at a cease-fire immediately and to start negotiating a lasting peace,\u201d he maintained.<\/p>\n
\tFocusing on the international community, the archbishop underscored the responsibility \u201cto engage in earnest in the pursuit of peace and to help the parties in this horrible conflict reach some understanding in order to stop the violence and look to the future with mutual trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cAt a time where brutality is common and human rights violations are ubiquitous, we must not become indifferent, but respond positively in order to attenuate the conflict which concerns us all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cViolence will only lead to more suffering, devastation and death, and will prevent peace from becoming a reality. The strategy of violence can be contagious and become uncontrollable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tIn addition, the archbishop called on the media to \u201creport in a fair and unbiased manner the tragedy of all who are suffering because of the conflict.\u201d In this way, the media can \u201cfacilitate the development of an impartial dialogue that acknowledges the rights of everyone, respects the just concerns of the international community, and benefits from the solidarity of the international community in supporting a serious effort to attain peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWith an eye to the future, the vicious circle of retribution and retaliation must cease,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
\n
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Geneva, Switzerland, Jul 24, 2014 \/ 01:34 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- In a statement issued during a special session of the Human Rights Council, the Holy See urged an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations aimed at a lasting peace between Israel a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-europe"],"yoast_head":"\n
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