Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold expressed horror after a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up outside a fast-food restaurant in downtown Tel Aviv April 17. The attack killed nine people in addition to the bomber and wounded dozens in the deadliest incident inside Israel in more than a year.

“The Episcopal Church condemns violence on all sides of the drastic and ever-worsening conflict in the Middle East,” Bishop Griswold said. “While deeply mindful of the rage and sense of hopelessness the continuing situation provokes among the Palestinian people, I am appalled by any notion that killing of innocent people can ever be justified.”

The attack was all the more disturbing and reprehensible, according to Bishop Griswold, because it came during the time of Passover. Earlier in the month, he called on all Episcopalians to hold up the Holy Land in prayer during the season in which Christians commemorate Christ’s passion and resurrection. Traditionally, the Good Friday offering collected in Episcopal churches has been sent to the Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

“As I read and watch news accounts of the deteriorating political situation unfolding in the City of Peace and throughout the Holy Land, I am fearful that an impending humanitarian tragedy is also unfolding,” Bishop Griswold said on April 12. “Regardless of one’s political views, we are all called to respond to human suffering, and to take all necessary measures to alleviate and prevent any tragedy wherever possible.”

Israel and Palestine are the focus of five resolutions filed in the Blue Book of the 75th General Convention. Support of the “rightful existence” of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine as two nations would be reaffirmed, as would recognition of Jerusalem as the shared capital of the two states. The legislation also calls for an end to all violence and its “crippling impact on Israeli and Palestinian societies.”

Two further resolutions ask for the consideration of investments that would support an economically viable Palestine and urge the Episcopal Church’s ecumenical and interfaith officer to continue in dialogue with Jewish, Muslim and Christian partners, supporting nonviolent resolution of conflict.

Another resolution encourages congregations and institutions to pray for “our sisters and brothers” in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East and underscores the importance of visiting Christian congregations in the Holy Land. The final resolution calls for removal of the Israeli security fence and an end to the isolation of East Jerusalem and Bethlehem from the West Bank caused by the continued construction of Israeli settlements, settler roads and the fence.

During the last triennium Executive Council requested that its Social Responsibility in Investments (SRI) committee prepare a report on the Church’s investment policy, particularly as it relates to companies that assist with construction of the security fence or conduct business inside territory claimed by Israel since 1967. The SRI committee recommended “corporate engagement” and “positive investment” practices with those companies.

Episcopal News Service contributed to this report.

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