As a group of faithful people representing diverse religious traditions we continue to add our voices to the myriad calls for peace and justice in Israel and Palestine.

As a first step we call for an end to all violence and immediate unimpeded delivery of robust humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. 

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King described violence as impractical and immoral. He said it is “impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win [their] understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love.” 

Second, we call for a peace between Israelis and Palestinians that is based on recognizing the basic worth, dignity, and human rights of every person. 

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference.”

Finally, we call for all people to work for this kind of just peace in Israel and Palestine and every place where violence destroys the human family.

by MVPJ Steering Committee, June 2025.

(Click here to read the April 2024 statement on peace in the Middle East.)