Christian Aid and other church groups say that the breach of the border between Gaza and Egypt demonstrates the desperation of a people held hostage to both a policy of collective punishment and an inadequate peace process.

UK-based international development agency Christian Aid has welcomed US President George Bush’s statement on the Middle East calling for ‘an end to the occupation that began in 1967’, referring to Israel and Palestinian lands.

Leaders of Britain's 250,000 strong Jewish community are among those welcoming a decision by the Muslim Council of Britain, the country's largest Islamic organization, to end its boycott of Holocaust Day on 27 January every year.

An all-volunteer group of professional, collegiate and church musicians and choir singers from seven US states will embark on December 14 for the Holy Land, to join with Israeli and Palestinian musicians to perform a progressive, four-city Christmas choir tour