Stephen M. Colecchi is a freelance writer/consultant and the former director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Stephen Colecchi has had numerous meetings with local leaders in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza over some 14 years. Despite the recent awful violence, he believes there is hope for the end of the conflict.
As the declining presence of Christians makes it more and more difficult to make the "Christian character" of the Holy Land visible, the church there needs the church in the United States to be more proactive.
Commentary: Violent conflict does not erupt in a vacuum. A cease-fire is only a first step on the long journey toward breaking the vicious cycle that has terrorized Israelis and Palestinians alike.
