THE RC Bishop of Lancaster, the Rt Rev Patrick O'Donoghue, has called on "people of good will", and especially Catholics in his own diocese, to join him in praying and working for justice, peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.

The Bishop said the human and moral imperative now is for a just peace based on understanding the needs of each community in a spirit of reconciliation.

"Our Government and the international community should also take the lead in insisting that international law be applied in the occupied territories and seek to facilitate the return to peace negotiations which must begin with the recognition that Israel is entitled to security within its borders and the Palestinians to a state of their own.

"In this respect the recent proposal from Saudi Arabia, together with the Mitchell and Tenet reports, are a good starting point."