[Churches for Middle East Peace press release] For the first time the Catholic, Coptic, Lutheran and Episcopal heads of churches in Jerusalem and the Franciscan Custodian of the Holy Places are joining with U.S. Christian denominations and groups to support urgent efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

These prominent Christian leaders from Catholic, Orthodox, mainline Protestant, Evangelical and Historic Peace Churches are endorsing Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to find a negotiated solution that will allow the communities of faith to flourish and improve in the Holy Land.

Churches for Middle East Peace Executive Director Warren Clark commented that, “This letter from Jerusalem and U.S. national church leaders comes at a crucial time for the hope of peace in the Holy Land. Secretary Kerry is playing a key role to bring the two sides together to negotiate. Now is the time for all Christians to seize this opportunity to show they care about finally ending this long and tragic conflict.”