Has the wind changed direction? Is a balmy breeze of common sense beginning to blow across the icy wastes of prejudice surrounding Israeli-Palestinian issues? Just a few years ago, you might have expected Catholic Church statements to be biased in favour of the Palestinian view, and show little or no sympathy for Israelis.

Now read Speaking a Word of Hope at a Critical Time for the Holy Land by the snappily named Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land and the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land and feel a sense of hope. They recognize the security concern of Israelis as well as the difficulties suffered by Palestinians. The contribution to the latter in Gaza by Hamas could have been mentioned, perhaps, but at least a recognition of the rights of Israelis is an improvement.