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MIDEAST-VATICAN Jul-14-2006 (610 words) With photos. xxxi
Pope expresses great concern over escalating Middle East conflict
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI is following events in the Middle East with great concern because "the latest dramatic events" risk "degenerating into a conflict with international repercussions," said Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state.
The cardinal issued a statement July 14 after the Middle East appeared to move a step closer to all-out war as fighting spread north to Lebanon. Israel bombed targets in Lebanon after members of Lebanon-based Hezbollah crossed into Israel and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers.
Cardinal Sodano said, "As in the past, the Holy See condemns both terrorist attacks on one side and military reprisals on the other. In fact, a state's right to defend itself does not exempt it from respecting the norms of international law, especially as regards safeguarding civilian populations.
"In particular, the Holy See deplores the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation," he said, adding that the Vatican is close to the Lebanese people, "who already have suffered much to defend their independence."
Cardinal Sodano said the current tensions in the Middle East demonstrate that "the only path worthy of our civilization is that of sincere dialogue between the parties concerned."
Leaders of Hezbollah, considered by the U.S. as a terrorist organization but regarded as a legitimate resistance movement by Lebanon, said they were acting in support of the Palestine-based Hamas fighters who kidnapped an Israeli soldier June 25, setting off Israeli reprisals in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli reprisals for the Hezbollah kidnapping included bombing the Beirut airport and establishing a naval blockade of the country's ports. The Lebanese government said 47 people died in the Israeli bombardments July 13.
Hezbollah responded by firing rocket and mortar shells into northern Israel; the Israeli government said July 14 that two people had been killed and more than 100 wounded in a dozen different cities and villages.
At the same time, Israel continued its offensive in Gaza, prompting Caritas Jerusalem to appeal for restraint, calm and prayers.
"Unfortunately, the situation in the Gaza Strip has worsened over the last week," Caritas Jerusalem said in a July 13 statement. "Air raids continue. ... The Israeli army has entered central Gaza cutting it in two. We are now moving into the third week in Gaza with little or no electricity. This means homes have little or no running water. Food is becoming scarcer."
The Caritas appeal asked "all parties to reject violence and make every effort to restore some sense of calm and orderliness. Killing, aggression, hostage-taking and efforts to harm a civilian population are wrong and must be condemned in the strongest terms."
Caritas asked Catholics around the world to contact their political leaders, asking them to put pressure on regional leaders "to ensure that the situation in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon not be allowed to spiral out of control and descend into a deeper abyss of despair, hopelessness and violence than already exists."
Ali Rashid, a member of the Italian Parliament and former Palestinian representative to Italy, told Vatican Radio July 13 that the Israeli reprisals in Gaza are accomplishing nothing other than strengthening support for "the most extremist" Palestinian factions.
"Today, most Palestinians simply want to survive and not even that is being guaranteed," Rashid said. "It is clear that those least inclined toward a political solution are being strengthened."
As for the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Franciscan Father David Jaeger, an Israeli citizen, told Vatican Radio, "The Lebanese government has a choice: It can continue to allow Hezbollah to control southern Lebanon or it can show some courage, reaffirm Lebanese sovereignty and suppress Hezbollah."
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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