The South African Council of Churches has today called on the South African Government to help broker peace in the escalating Middle East crisis by inviting representatives of all of the warring groups - including the leadership of Israel, Palestine and Lebanon - to meet in South Africa to negotiate an end to hostilities in the region.

The process, facilitated by the South African Government, would be modeled on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and could be supervised by a credible international body such as the United Nations.

The SACC's call is a response to the mounting tensions in the Middle East as a result of Israel's recent bombing raids into Lebanon, which have killed scores of innocent people and devastated neighbourhoods.

Such a peace initiative could address all affected areas in the Middle East, including the protracted warfare in the occupied Palestine in which many people have lost life, limb and property.

The SACC believes that South Africa's TRC experience could be adapted and used to bring about reconciliation in the Middle East, and that South Africa should take a proactive role.

The Council also expressed support for the call made by the Middle East Council of Churches, urging the international community to "put pressure on all sides concerned to engage in a political dialogue".

"It is our view," said SACC media spokesperson Fr. Jo Mdhlela, "that there will be no winners in this conflict unless there is a negotiated settlement accompanied by a process of reconciliation. We are calling the South African government to work vigorously with other governments and international institutions for the realization of a lasting and just peace in the Middle East.

"The events of the last few days, which have exposed ordinary law abiding citizens of Lebanon to extreme violence, are completely unacceptable. They call for an immediate, but also a wise and measured response. The SACC is committed to playing a meaningful role by sending South Africans to be a non-violent presence in the conflict-ridden area. We do this in order to gain a better understanding of the situation in the Holy Land and to demonstrate our concern for the well-being of all people in the region. Equally, we would want to urge our government, perhaps under the auspices of the United Nations, to contribute to peace by facilitating talks among the warring parties."

The South African of Churches is also inviting faith communities to hold private and public prayer meetings to pray for an end to the conflict in the Middle East.