My thoughts and prayers today are with Palestinians who mourn the loss of Yasser Arafat, their elected leader who has long embodied their yearning for sovereignty and respect.
It is my hope that both the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority will make every effort to move through this period with restraint, order and a shared commitment to peace-making.
May this transition be seen as an opportunity to break the seemingly endless cycles of violence such that Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in a just peace and with security. I urge our government to be a strong partner in the process with both sides to find the way forward.
November 11, 2004
The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church, USA
