|TOP|The World Council of Churches (WCC) is set to convene a joint advocacy initiative for peace in Palestine and Israel from March 12-19th, 2006.

For one week, church groups from across a dozen countries will join members from the International Pax Christi and Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) networks at the event being hosted by the WCC.

People from Oslo, Cape Town, Toronto and Jerusalem among others will join concerned groups to lobby parliamentarians, hold public meetings, observe vigils and plant olive trees as a symbolic act calling for peace.

The various activities have been arranged with the focus of signalling to policy-makers and public audiences the churches’ conviction that a “just and equitable resolution of the conflict is now more urgent than ever”.

|AD|The initiative has been firmly backed by numerous patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem calling Christians from all regions of the world to join in the week “to make a public witness for peace.”

The supporting message stated: “Now as the situation continues to deteriorate and opportunities for peace are forsaken it is crucial for Christians to make their voices heard vigorously in the public arena.”

The landmark week will be launched on March 12th in Jerusalem with a joint service of prayer, which will be led by the head of churches.

During the week other activities will take place such as a solidarity visit with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPTs) in Hebron, a candlelight march at the Separation Wall, and a planting day that is part of an Olive Tree Campaign.

Similar policies adopted by the WCC and its partners in the past have stood in live with the new initiative, and it states: “These reflect the broad international and legal consensus around a two-state solution, based on relevant UN resolutions, and a settlement negotiated between the two parties to secure the legitimate rights and future of both peoples.”