Violence in the Middle East is distressing. The area encompasses the Holy Land, and Christians really care about what goes on there-as do Muslims and Jews.
It is not hard to find reasons to condemn all sides of the current crisis. The lobbing of rockets by Hamas into Israel-thousands over the past few years-is wrong, and the Israelis have a right to respond. Firing at Israeli civilians is a violation of the Geneva Convention and all rules of war.
On the other hand, the response of Israel in Gaza has been disproportionate: over 1,000 residents of Gaza killed (about two-thirds civilians) and thousands more injured since the hostilities began.
While who's right and who's wrong can be debated endlessly, the important question for Canadians, and Anglicans, is what should we do about it? Two answers come to mind.
First, care for the suffering. Bishop Michael Ingham last month asked the people of the Diocese to support the Anglican Hospital in Gaza. The diocese has generously replied, giving thousands of dollars (see related story).
Another Anglican agency, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, is currently responding to emergency appeals in Gaza to help all those affected. This diocese has and continues to strongly support the PWRDF.
The second answer is not to sink into despair over the Middle East conflict, but to support those who work to find a way forward. As the new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said, the conflict "must only increase our determination to seek a just and lasting peace agreement."
The situation in Israel/Palestine, frankly, seem hopeless-but then not so many years ago so did the constant bombings in Northern Ireland, where peace seems to have finally broken out. Prayer, and determined efforts will bring peace to the Holy Land. We must keep working on it.
Opinions expressed in editorials and opinion pieces on this website are always those of the writers, and not necessarily those of the Diocesan Synod or the Bishop of New Westminster.