With global attention focussing on news of BBC journalist Alan Johnston's release from captivity in Gaza, a leading church agency says it is time to end the isolation of the Palestinian authority if peace is to be possible.

Doing justice to the Palestinian people will bring about security for Israel too, a global church conference has heard. There were appeals to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and to combat anti-Semitism too.

Christian Aid has this week urged Gordon Brown, who becomes British Prime Minister next week, not to make the same mistakes in the Middle East as Tony Blair.

The Archbishop of York is to hold a prayer vigil today (Tuesday) for BBC journalist Alan Johnston, missing in Gaza. Christians and others are also remembering the many other captives in Iraq and Israel.