Pope Benedict today denounced a Palestinian suicide attack in Tel Aviv earlier this week, and urged both Palestinians and Israelis not to let themselves fall into a spiral of growing violence.
"I learned with great pain the news of the terrible attack last Monday in Tel Aviv, Israel. I feel it is my duty to express the strongest condemnation for such a terrorist attack," Pope Benedict said at the end of his weekly general audience.
A Palestinian suicide bomber killed nine people and wounded 60 outside a Tel Aviv restaurant during the Jewish holiday of Passover on Monday. Israel has blamed the Hamas-led Palestinian government for the attack.
Pope Benedict, marking the first anniversary of his pontificate today, urged restraint.
"May the Lord, prince of peace, be close to both to the Israelis and Palestinians so that they don't let themselves fall into a tragic drift, but resume the path that will lead them to live in peace and safety next to each other like children of the same God," the Pope said.