New York City, N.Y., Feb 2, 2016 / 06:02 am
Peace was the focus of the Holy See's representative in a recent speech to the United Nations, where he renewed calls to support negotiations between Israel and Palestine and between the warring factions in Syria.
"Certain elements among both peoples have suffered too long from the misguided view that force will resolve their differences. Only sustained negotiations, entered into in good faith, will resolve their differences and bring peace to the peoples of Israel and Palestine," Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the apostolic nuncio heading the Holy See's permanent observer mission to the U.N., said Jan. 26.
Speaking on behalf of the Holy See, he addressed the Security Council's open debate on the situation in the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying it has stalled.
"With the lack of substantive negotiations taking place, acts of violence continue to spiral, bringing many to doubt seriously the continued validity of the Oslo Accords," he said, referring to the 1993 agreement between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.