The Dean of Salisbury Cathedral shared his experiences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a recent Rotary Club meeting.

The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, an honorary member of the Salisbury Rotary Club, was the guest speaker at the club's gathering at the White Hart Hotel.

He was joined by numerous Rotarians, friends, and guests, including the Mayor of Salisbury and honorary Rotary member Sven Hocking, as well as past mayor and member Atiqul Hoque.

The Dean's speech covered various crucial matters, including the realities of daily life in an occupied territory, the implications for human rights and international law and possible solutions for peace in Israel-Palestine.

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The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury Cathedral, gave a talk at Salisbury Rotary Club (Image: Spencer Mulholland) Between January and April 2024, the Dean spent three months on sabbatical leave volunteering in East Jerusalem.

He worked with the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, which he described as "an overwhelming experience".

This initiative attempted to determine solidarity for peace and justice and advocated for an end to the occupation of Palestine.

The Dean, along with a small team of international volunteers, monitored human rights, freedom and worship, visited holy sites, worshipped in various churches, and engaged with numerous people and organisations.

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They lived through the Muslim observance of Ramadan and celebrated Holy Week and Easter in the Holy City, against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza.

One of the first people he met summed up the situation, asking the Dean: "What brings you to this God's forsaken place, a stone's throw from Bethlehem?"

The Dean reminded the audience of the long-standing history of the conflict, tracing it back to the formation of Israel in 1948, through the six-day war in 1967, and leading up to the current conflict depicted on our TV screens every day.

The Dean concluded by stating that the conflict is ongoing and the struggle continues.