The head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned the increasing violence that has hit the Middle East recently.

|PIC1|Dr Rowan Williams, who leads the 77-million Anglican worldwide Church expressed his alarm at the “spiral of violence, the vicious circle of attack and retaliation, that has developed over the last few days”.

He joins in a chorus of spiritual and political leaders around the world calling for an end to the atrocities.

The world’s most powerful political leaders struggled on Sunday to find ways to prevent the Middle East violence from expanding into an even more extensive war. As the world’s G8 leaders met, they urged Israel to show “utmost restraint” during the difficult time, and blamed Islamic militant group Hezbollah and Hamas for instigating the unfolding crisis, which has now been ongoing for nearly two weeks.

Writing to the Heads of Churches in the Lebanon, Dr Williams said, “I have been alarmed at the spiral of violence, the vicious circle of attack and retaliation, that has developed over the last few days.

“My prayers and sympathy are with the principal victims, the innocent civilians on both sides of the border, who now live in terror and are powerless to prevent the collective suffering at the hands of at the hands of Hizballah and the Israeli military.

”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.”

Also this week the major Middle East-focused charitable NGO, BibleLands, has appealed to UK Christians to pray for an end to the escalating conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.

|TOP|The Christian Charity, which works with disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the region, has received urgent prayer requests from its Project Partners on the ground.

Biblelands reveals it has been given first-hand accounts of the constant danger from air strikes and rocket attacks, and the blockades that threaten to sever vital supplies.

The Rev. Dr Riad Kassis, Principal of the Schneller School in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley reported to Biblelands: “Every hour, the situation worsens. So far we are safe, but trapped due to the bombing of roads and bridges to Beirut.

“It is not safe to travel by car as civilian vehicles are also targeted. Please join with us in prayer at this difficult time.”

In addition, the Church of Scotland has united with calls by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) demanding a halt to the Israeli violence in Gaza.

|QUOTE|The statement, made by the convener of the Church and Society Council, Morag Mylne, on behalf of the Kirk’s World Mission and Church and Society, said, “More recently, the escalation in attacks and the spread of fear cause us deep concern and anguish. The Kirk has a long history of engagement with the Israel/Palestine question and believes that negotiation, rather than violence, can be the only way to a resolution,” she said.

“If that process is to be a reality it is necessary for both sides to develop trust and draw back from a cycle of destructive behaviour in which they continue to be engaged.”

Ms Mylne also stressed the role of the international community in finding a long term solution to the conflict.

“In particular we would encourage Her Majesty’s Government to do all in their power to promote and facilitate meaningful dialogue,” she said.

“We offer our continued prayers for those whose suffering has been heightened in recent days.”

Archbishop Rowan Williams also concluded, “My condemnation of this resort to violence is unequivocal.”

The full text of his letter can be seen below:


|AD|To Our beloved Brothers in the Lord
The Heads of Churches in Lebanon

Grace and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ at this traumatic time for you and the people of Lebanon.

Today, as thousands of foreign passport-holders are evacuated from Beirut, I am only too conscious of the plight of those, from all communities, who have no place of refuge from the violence that has been unleashed. It pains us all greatly to see again the ancient Christian communities of the Middle East fleeing the land where they have borne witness for two millennia and to contemplate the hardships that will be faced by those who stay.

I have been alarmed at the spiral of violence, the vicious circle of attack and retaliation, that has developed over the last few days. My prayers and sympathy are with the principal victims, the innocent civilians on both sides of the border, who now live in terror and are powerless to prevent the collective suffering at the hands of Hizballah and the Israeli military. 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. I offer you every support in your efforts to bring it to an end and allow Lebanon to be, once again, a living message of co-existence and solidarity between different religious communities.

Remembering the times we have met, even recently, I look forward to the chance to do so again in calmer times - either here or in Lebanon. Although our Christian message may seem, in these dark days, a small voice in a terrible wilderness of suffering it is delivered in the confidence that God’s purposes for us and his people will prevail and that purpose is one of peace, harmony and reconciliation.

May our Lord Jesus Christ give you, as chief pastors of his flock, every strength and blessing in your ministry.

Rowan Cantuar