(January 17, 2009) There are so many failed efforts to achieve peace in the Middle
East because there is a lack of political will to succeed, says the Holy See. This
was affirmed today by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy
See to the United Nations, at the U.N. General Assembly 10th emergency special session
on "Illegal Israeli Actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the Rest of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory." The archbishop began by expressing the delegation's solidarity
with the civilians in Gaza and some Israeli cities, which "bear the brunt of a cruel
conflict." He urged that the Security Council resolution from a week ago, "which calls
for an immediate and enduring ceasefire as well as for an unimpeded humanitarian assistance,"
to be implemented fully. And the prelate lamented the failure "from all sides to
respect the distinction of civilians from military targets." Archbishop Migliore
noted that the troubled history of the last 60 years of co-existence between the Israelis
and Palestinians has included a long succession of conflicts, but also of dialogue.
"Unfortunately, however, the many efforts to establish peace between the Israeli and
Palestinian peoples have so far failed," he stated. Thus, the prelate said, the United
Nations faces the "weighty task to get the parties to respect the ceasefire, pave
the way to negotiations and agreements between them and ensure humanitarian assistance.""In
particular," he concluded, "this General Assembly can assist the parties in the conflict
to discover new patterns for establishing peace, patterns based on mutual acceptance
and cooperation amid diversity."