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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has condemned Israel for contributing to a "vicious circle of attack and retaliation" in Lebanon.

Writing to the leaders of the Christian churches in the region, Dr Williams also criticised Hezbollah for bringing "collective suffering" down on innocent civilians on both sides of the border.

He said:"The distress felt at the destruction not only of life but also the infrastructure so painstakingly rebuilt after years of conflict will, I know, be acute and reinforce the sense of helplessness at being caught up in a wider regional struggle. My condemnation of this resort to violence is unequivocal."

His comments came as supporters of both sides in the escalating conflict prepared rival rallies to take place in and around London this weekend.

The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks, leader of Britain’s Orthodox Jewish community, will address an Israel Solidarity rally on Sunday organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Speakers will emphasise the need and right of Israel to defend itself and the rally, in Kenton, Middlesex, will include a live video link to the mayor of a town in northern Israel.

Henry Grunwald, QC, President of the Board of Deputies, said: "Israel has the right to defend itself against unprovoked attacks on sovereign soil. This event will demonstrate support for the efforts to stop the barrage of more than 1,500 rockets from Gaza and Lebanon into Israel, and all other acts of terror."

Before then, on Saturday, a coalition including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Muslim Association of Britain, British Muslim Initiative and Lebanese organisations will stage anti-Israel demonstrations in London as well as Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Exeter and other cities.

The organisers, the Stop the War Coalition, said: "Israel’s war in Gaza and Lebanon is escalating into an international crisis which could soon engulf the whole region. Israel’s barbarism in Gaza and Lebanon, in which the world’s fourth most powerful military force is systematically destroying the infrastructure of two defenceless countries, killing hundreds of civilians, blockading the supply of food and medical supplies, driving thousands of people from their homes, must stop now."

The Three Faiths Forum, one of the few organisations in Britain attempting to achieve dialogue between leaders of all the three Abrahamic faiths, urged all the combatants to pull back from the edge of total conflagration "while there is still a chance".

In a joint statement the Forum leaders, who include Sir Sigmund Sternberg of the Reform Jewish community, said: "There is no future to be found in bullet, bomb or rocket, only blood and devastation. There is no peace which can be built on the blasted homes and mangled remains of innocents.

"Decades of conflict have already more than made that point. How many more must die before this dreadful lesson strikes home? We welcome the call of the G8 nations for an end to the violence and their commendation of those Middle East nations which have sought to restore peace to an area which so desperately needs it."

Britain’s Jewish community has close ties with Israelis living near the northern border. Many British Jews who have made "aliyah" or emigrated to Israel live in Haifa, just 18 miles from the border and within reach of Hezbollah rockets.

One Manchester academic, the historian Irene Lancaster, an expert in Jewish-Christian relations, is emigrating early in August. She said that the advice from some Christian leaders that she should not now go has not changed her mind.

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