Appeals to Israelis and Palestinians to Return to Dialogue
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 2, 2000 (ZENIT.org).- Let «arms be silenced!» John Paul II implored this morning, pleading for peace in the Holy Land, as violence continued for the fifth day in the West Bank and Gaza.
At an audience in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father was responding to the confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians that as of midday today, according to CNN, had left 36 dead. Another report put the death toll at 45.
Before bidding farewell to pilgrims who had attended the canonization Sunday of 123 new saints, the Pope said: «I want to manifest to you a weight that I am suffering in my spirit during these hours. For a few days, the Holy City of Jerusalem has become the theater of violent confrontations, which have caused numerous dead and wounded, among whom are some children.»
«Spiritually close to the families of those who have lost their life, I send a heartfelt appeal to all those responsible to silence the arms, avoid provocations, and return to the path of dialogue,» the Holy Father said.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli combat helicopters bombed two apartment buildings, a military post and two vehicles in Gaza. This is the first time Israel used helicopters to bomb targets in a population center since the beginning of the confrontations in Palestinian territories.
The latest victim of the fighting was an Arab Israeli, who died in the confrontations in Sajnin, in the north of Israel, according to hospital sources.
Little Sara Hasan, 2, a Palestinian died in the early morning near the West Bank city of Naplusa when Jewish settlers shot at the car driven by her father, Palestinian sources reported. The father told the Palestinian radio broadcasting station that his daughter was shot in the head when they were returning to the village of Talfit, after taking his daughter to hospital, suffering from fever.
«The Holy Land must be the land of peace and fraternity,» the Pope exclaimed at the end of the general audience. «This is what God wants!»
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