Candlelit vigil calls for peace in Gaza and Israel

Coventry Cathedral. 46.010.021.cov.jg7

OVER 50 people stood in silence on the steps of Coventry Cathedral Ruins on Monday in solidarity with peacemakers in Palestine and Israel.

The vigil was organised by members of Pax Christi and the Coventry RC Deanery Justice and Peace group.

Among them was Coventry peace campaigner Ann Farr. Here she writes for The Observer:

"We were joined by people from over the West Midlands and from Chester and students from Warwick and Coventry University.

"Several of the group have visited and lived in Palestine and have friends there and are in constant touch with them, hearing their news and in the background the sounds of the F16s and drones dropping bombs relentlessly on Gaza and the rockets in Israel.

"Christians, Moslems and Jews stood together remembering those of all three faiths who are suffering in the present crisis the families of the 100 Palestinians and three Israelis who have died, those who have lost their homes and all who are living in fear.

"Manal Timraz, a Palestinian who runs a restaurant in Coventry, lost 14 members of her family in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead and this time another of her family has been seriously injured.

"She will fly out to Cairo on Tuesday in the hope of getting into Gaza to volunteer in one of their hospitals where the medical staff are struggling to help the hundreds of injured, many of whom are children with few resources and very little sleep.

"During Operation Cast Lead we started Candles for Peace’ in Coventry and again we invite everyone to join us in lighting a candle at 6pm each day for peace in Palestine and Israel.

"At the end of the vigil we heard messages have started to come in from all over the UK and from other countries, including Ireland, Peru, Japan and South Africa, telling us that others are joining us in lighting candles.

"Messages of solidarity can be sent to annfarr@phonecoop.coop and these will sent on the Middle East."

Regional news »