The whole Diocese, both clergy and laity, is distressed by the current
state of affairs in our Land of the Holy One.

Naturally we extend our condolences to all the bereaved families and our
prayers for recovery and healing to the thousands of victims and their
families who have been injured in body, mind and spirit. This said, we
would want to register our profound disappointment and dismay at the way in
which the Israeli Leadership has allowed this situation to deteriorate
rapidly.

We vehemently denounce the random shooting by the Israeli forces, which
began on September 28th at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and has
continued to date, even extending to Mary's Well and the Basilica of the
Annunciation in Nazareth. We hold the Government of Israel responsible for
the killing and injury of so many and now call upon the United Nations and
their Security Council to take immediate measures to stop the massacre of
our Palestinian people. Furthermore, we call upon them to ensure the
withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from all liberated and disputed
Palestinian territories.

We call upon the United Nations to require Israel to comply with all its
resolutions in order that:
- the safety of our people is guaranteed;
- their right to self-determination and the right to a State of their own
on Palestinian soil with Jerusalem as its capital is assured together with
the restoration of human dignity.

In conclusion we would ask that the United Nations make a full
investigation into the recent atrocities and hold the Government of Israel
accountable for provoking this violent situation.

The Rt Revd Riah Abu El-Assal
Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem

4 October 2000