Bible Society leaders in Holy Land call for prayer as violence escalates

The leaders of the three Bible Societies in the Holy Land have issued a call for prayer as violence increases in the region and fears rise of an escalation in the conflict. 

Fighting began on Monday following a month of rising tensions due to fears that hundreds of Palestinians could be evicted from their homes in East Jerusalem. 

Rockets fired from Hamas-controlled Gaza into Israeli territory have led to attacks on the territory by Israeli warplanes. As well as confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians, tensions are rising between Israel's Jewish majority and Arab minority populations. 

Local Bible Society leaders Nashat Filmon, Dina Katanacho and Victor Kalisher.

In a joint statement, Victor Kalisher, Executive Director of the Bible Society in Israel; Nashat Filmon, General Secretary of the Palestinian Bible Society; and Dina Katanacho, Director of the Arab Israeli Bible Society said: ‘Suffering is increasing every day.’ 

They said they were ‘crying out to God for mercy and call upon you to pray with us’.

They asked for prayer that leaders might become peacemakers and that the current violence will not escalate, and that God would bless the followers of Christ and ‘empower them to be light and salt during these difficult seasons’.

The Bible Society leaders said: ‘May the word of God impact our communities and transform people into the likeness of Jesus Christ.’ 

Please join others in praying for peace by visiting our Middle East Prayer Tree.