Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – "We must start talking peace right away even if extremists on both sides carry out violence acts like last night's attack in Gaza", this according to Rev Maroun Lahham, Rector of the Latin Seminary of Jerusalem.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Rev Lahham was referring to the suicide attack against an Israeli post at the Kami crossing, a goods terminal between Gaza and Israel, which killed six Israeli civilians and three members of the Palestinian commando. Israel responded by sealing off the Gaza Strip until further notice.

"This violence," Rev Lahham said, "must not stop the peace process and political leaders must understand there will always be fanatics. Most Palestinians and Israelis want a just peace."

Four days after Mahmoud Abbas [aka Abu Mazen] was officially declared the winner in last Sunday's Palestinian presidential election, the Gaza suicide attack is overshadowing the optimism in finding a solution to the Middle Eastern crisis that Arafat's succession had generated.

For Rev Lahham, "last night's attack is part of daily life. [At Kami crossing,] Palestinians go through one day; Israelis, the next. We should not view it [the attack] as a single incident taking place on Abu Mazen's first day as president. [We should see] it as part of the ongoing cycle of violence fuelled by both sides."
During the electoral campaign Mr Abbas had called on armed groups to stop anti-Israel violence and give peace talks with the Jewish state a chance.

For Rev Lahham, a solution to this "spiral of violence" might be just "around the corner", but it requires the good will of leaders on both sides.

"I don't see much mutual respect," he said, "but we must understand and accept the idea that we are all equal in terms of rights and duties".

"Only a just and lasting peace for two peoples and two independent nations can be a solution for everyone", Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.

"We all live in a state of insecurity, in fear for the future, and we all need peace," he added. "Hope for the future does not however make us forget of the many disappointments. We have learnt not to trust words. What we need are concrete examples of good intentions to solve the conflict in our land".

Despite the attack, the election of Mahmoud Abbas is a positive sign. "The Church has blessed this election which was free and democratic," Rev Lahham said. "Electing a new president shows the maturity of the Palestinian people—it also shows other peoples that democracy can be built". (MA)