August 12, 2002	Monday	Jamadi-us-Saani 2, 1423

CASTEL GANDOLFO (Italy) Aug 11: Pope John Paul made an emotional appeal on Sunday for peace in the Middle East, and gave his apparent support to an international peacekeeping forces in the region.

“I cannot stop thinking with extreme concern about the Holy Land, which unfortunately has not seen a truce in the almost daily episodes of abominable violence,” the Pope said in his regular Sunday address.

“I ask the international community to commit itself with greater determination to be present on the ground, offering mediation to create the conditions for a fruitful dialogue between the parties that would accelerate peace.”

While Palestinians have supported the idea of an international presence, Israel has vehemently opposed it.

In his address, delivered at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope criticised both Palestinian suicide bombers and Israeli plans to wall in their settlements.

“Yet again, I make an appeal to the Israeli and Palestine politicians responsible to recover the path of fair negotiations,” the 82-year-old Pontiff said.

At the beginning of the month, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said: “I am asking for quick international intervention from the United Nations. If they are not able to send forces, they should send observers.”

“Neither attacks, nor barriers, nor acts of retribution will lead to a just solution”, the 82-year-old pontiff said during the Angelus prayer at his summer residence Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

He also condemned the recent violence on both sides, saying: “There is no justification for those who kill innocent civilians.”—Reuters/dpa