Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank and Israel expressed anger after Israeli airstrikes in Qana, Lebanon, left 65 civilians dead in the largest attack against Hezbollah militants since the war began mid-July.

Jacob Zakharia, a Palestinian Melkite Catholic living in Jerusalem's Old City, said that Palestinian Christians are most affected by the conflict.

"We are sandwiched between extreme Jews and extreme Muslims," Zakharia said.

Like many, Zakharia expected an Israeli aerial cease-fire following the July 31 Qana attack.

"I heard half an hour ago on the radio that Israel was bombing again," Zakharia told Catholic News Service July 31.

Israeli forces carried out aerial attacks in southern Lebanon July 31, hours after the government agreed to a 48-hour halt while investigating its bombing in Qana. But a representative from the Israeli Defense Forces said, "This was not a cease-fire. There was a partial suspension of certain aerial activities."

Meanwhile, Zakharia said Israel doesn't care about its neighbors in the Middle East.

"Israel has very sophisticated bombs and bombardment tactics. They don't care about their neighbors," he said. "They respect only who is powerful."

Father Youssef Saadeh, a Palestinian parish priest at St. John the Baptist Church in Nablus, West Bank, said he believes U.S. President George W. Bush and the American government is supporting Israel and its airstrikes against Hezbollah militants.

"As Arab people, we need justice and rights. This airstrike is a very good example for how Mr. Bush is a bad man, so is his government. I think Mr. Bush told the Israelis to bomb Qana," said Father Saadeh.

"How can we speak about the peace and love of Jesus when the Israeli soldiers send their bombs and kill many children and young men in this city," he said.

The Bush administration says it supports a long-lasting Middle East cease-fire that would address the root of the ongoing conflict, rather than a quick-fix halt to the war.

Franciscan Father Quirico Calella, who lives in the northern Israeli city of Acre, said he is just relieved to see only smoke and not tragedy after a Hezbollah rocket landed near a parishioner's home July 30.

"We hope for us and for Lebanon," Father Calella said.

-- CNS