THE Bishop of Worcester has signed a joint letter with the Archbishop of Birmingham calling for the government to act on Israel's planned annexation of the West Bank.

Rev John Inge and Archbishop Bernard Longley have jointly issued the statement calling for a peaceful solution in the Middle East, saying "the UK Government has a duty to act and do everything possible to dissuade the Government of Israel from annexing the West Bank in violation of international law."

In a joint statement, the pair said: "For several weeks, reports have been in circulation suggesting that the Israeli Government plans to annexe parts of the West Bank.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster recently issued a statement expressing the churches’ strong opposition to these plans for annexation, which local Christian leaders have warned would “bring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of the peace process.”

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The two bishops say they are supporting the call to action of The Right Rev Declan Lang (Catholic Bishop of Clifton and Chair of the Holy Land Coordination group) and the Right Revd Christopher Chessun (Bishop of Southwark and Anglican representative on the Holy Land Coordination group) who have now called on the UK government and parliamentarians to help prevent annexation, which could begin on July 1.

Rev Lang and Revd Chessun issued a joint statement saying: "From our dialogue with communities in the Holy Land, we know first-hand that the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Annexation would only bring more conflict, suffering and division.

"The UK Government has a duty to act and to do everything possible to dissuade the Government of Israel from annexing the West Bank in violation of international law.

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"This week we have made representations to the government and senior parliamentarians about the situation. Alongside other churches and faith groups we will continue to work on this fundamental question of justice and peace."

Bishop Inge and Longley said: "We express our strong support for this call for action by the British Government and parliamentarians.

"Having led joint Roman Catholic/Anglican pilgrimages to the Holy Land, we share a common commitment to the Christian communities there and to their flourishing.

"We are equally united in our longing for all the communities in the Holy Land – and indeed in the whole of the Middle East – to live in peace and security, with justice for all."