Sir, The murderous violence at the rabbinical seminary in Jerusalem (news, March 7) marks another terrible chapter of acute human suffering. Illegal attacks against civilians should be condemned by all sides. The time has come for all parties to recognise that peace cannot be born out of violence.

This week’s report by leading humanitarian organisations exposed the scale of the tragedy in Gaza. This should not be forgotten amidst the grief. Israel must protect its citizens against indiscriminate attacks but it will not achieve this through a deliberate, indiscriminate policy of collective punishment against the population of Gaza.

The failure of both sides to recognise the grievances of the other only sustains the conflict. It is right that the international community should pressure Hamas to renounce violence and relinquish policies that form a barrier to peace but this will be best achieved through dialogue and engagement. The current policy on Gaza has been an abject failure. It is time to start afresh. We call on the UK Government to condemn the blockade and to put pressure on the Government of Israel to bring it to an immediate end.

Peace is not impossible nor beyond human imagination. With persistence, patience and determination, progress can be made. Of course, this must come from the communities at the heart of the dispute. But our Government must do more to play its part in trying to bring about the conditions under which both Israelis and Palestinians can grasp a real hope of peace.

Right Rev John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford

Right Rev William Kenney, CP
Regional Bishop for Coventry, Oxfordshire & Warwickshire of the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham

Right Rev Peter Price, Bishop of Bath and Wells

Right Rev John Stroyan, Bishop of Warwick

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