Baltimore, Md., Nov 16, 2007 / 13:02 pm
In an exclusive interview with CNA earlier this week, Bishop Thomas Wenski took time to explain why the Bishop’s Conference supports a two state solution to bring peace to the Holy Land. The USCCB Chairman of the Committee on International Policy made his comments in light of the upcoming Annapolis peace conference, due to begin on November 27.
Bishop Wenski began by pointing to a letter published by the Orlando Sentinel this past week, in which he was joined by leaders from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions, who voiced their belief that “peace between Israelis and Palestinians is possible.”
In their letter, the religious leaders all agree that the way to bring peace about is “the creation of a two-state solution, a recognized and secure Israel and an independent and viable Palestinian state, comprising the West Bank and Gaza, living side-by-side in peace with each other.”
Endorsing dialogue as the means to achieve peace, the leaders wrote, “[p]eace in the land holy to the three major monotheistic religions will not be won by military means, but only through a negotiated settlement that is built on realistic compromises and concrete reciprocal steps that inspire confidence and help overcome decades of mutual suspicion and hostility.”