In a message to all the Palestinian people, Jerusalem church leaders alarmed at worsening relations between two main political parties are calling for an end to violence and an urgent return to the "real priorities" of Palestinians. The plan is to work with Jerusalem's top Islamic leaders on a similar Christian-Muslim message as well.

The Protestant development aid programme Kerkinactie has left the national platform of Dutch peace and development organizations advocating a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - writes Andreas Havinga for Ecumenical News International.
The decision of Kerkinactie to end its membership of United Civilians for Peace (UCP) was announced on 22 December and took effect earier this week.

As tension and violence continues to escalate in Gaza, Caritas Jerusalem, the Catholic aid agency, continues to be alarmed at the ongoing deterioration of the health situation in the Palestinian Territories - and involved in practical work to redress the situation.

A television documentary following British church leaders on a recent pre-Christmas 'pilgrimage of peace' to the Israel Palestine ‚Ä' and particularly Bethlehem, traditionally held to be the birthplace of Jesus ‚Ä' is due to be screened this weekend.

A delegation of Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the State Department today to support positive American engagement in achieving a bipartisan peace agreement in the Middle East.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, says that the care he saw being given to a baby from an economically deprived family in Bethlehem during his pilgrimage there was a shining reminder of the Christmas message ‚Ä' that God's revolutionary love comes to us as a gift, in the face of all life's trials and joys.

In his Christmas message to the churches in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Cyprus, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah has offered a vision of peace, justice, freedom and an end to the occupation for the Holy Land ‚Ä' so that it might truly be a sign of hope to the world.

The Israeli separation wall is "a sign of all that is wrong in the human heart", the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said today in Bethlehem - calling for bridges rather than barriers to deal with problems of violence and division.

As UK church leaders prepare for a pilgrimage to the beleagured city, news has emerged that a peacebuilding school in Bethlehem which welcomes Muslim, Christian and Jewish girls and boys has been told that part of their building is due to be demolished by the huge Israeli 'security wall' being constructed around the town.

Full text of the bipartisan ‘Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace, From Crisis to Hope,' statement to the American government