PRAYER FOR PEACE

Quneitra, May 7, 2001

"And fear not those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul" -Matthew 10:28 

"And think not those who are killed in the way of God as dead, nay, they are alive" -The Quran 3:144

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" - John 14:27

"And the angels shall enter unto them from every gate: Peace be unto you for that you have persevered in patience" - The Quran 13:23-24

Quneitra was the capital of the Golan Heights before Israel occupied the region in 1967. More than 400,000 Syrians were forced to leave their homes in the Golan and never came back. In 1974, Israel had to withdraw from Quneitra according to a disengagement agreement with Syria. But when the Syrians entered the city, they were shocked to find that the Israelis had destroyed every single building there. 

The city came under systemic Israeli destruction using explosives and bulldozers. Even hospitals and places of worship were robbed and destroyed. Today, its ruins stand as a symbol of occupation. 

On May 7, 2001, Pope John Paul II led the prayer for peace in the deserted Greek Orthodox Church of Quneitra. The church was also destroyed by Israeli troops in 1974. Only few hours before the prayer, Israeli army fire killed a four-month-old Palestinian girl whose name means faith.

Iman Hejjo was the youngest child to die in the seven months of Palestinian uprising (the Intifada). She was killed when the Israeli army shelled the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of the Intifada in September 2000, more than 450 Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli troops.

"Mindful of the sad news of conflict and death which even today arrived from Gaza, our prayer becomes even more intense," the Pope said. "From this place, so disfigured by war, I wish to raise my voice in prayer for peace in the Holy Land and the world. May all believers find the courage to forgive one another, so that the wounds of the past may be healed, and not be a pretext for further suffering in the present."

The people of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the Syrian Golan Heights are still suffering under Israeli occupation. The tragedy continues and the world stands watching as innocents are being massacred everyday. The least you can do is to remember them, pray for them, pray for peace. 

The Orthodox Church in Quneitra, Golan Heights. The church was destroyed and robbed by the Israelis upon their occupation of the city. (Picture from April 2000)

Pope prays for peace in the Church of Quneitra.