Pilgrims ‘must not be bystanders’ in Holy Land

A veteran peace campaigner has called on Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land to be better informed on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, writes Christopher Lamb.

Bruce Kent, honorary vice president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), said Christians who went to the region should not be bystanders.

“No pilgrimage should go to the Holy Land that doesn’t include a briefing from the Palestinian and Israeli peace movements, ideally together,” said Mr Kent, a Catholic priest who has retired from active ministry, when addressing a rally of at least 20,000 demonstrators in Parliament Square, London on Saturday, calling for peace in Gaza.