Anglican leaders have issued statements of sympathy, concern and calls for prayer following the news of the recent bombings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

The Most Rev. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, expressed shock and sadness in a letter to Prime Minister Shimon Peres of Israel and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

"Terrorist attacks on innocent people can never be condoned or justified," he said. "I am alarmed that these incidents could lead to the return of the appalling spiral of violence, hatred and revenge at a time when peace was within reach, offering hope that the security needs and national aspirations of both communities could be satisfied."

The Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, said, "Having lived in the middle of the conflict in the Holy Land for 12 years, my heart is moved with great compassion for all the innocent people whose daily lives are threatened by such outbursts of violence and outrage."

The Rt. Rev. Samir Kafity, primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, issued a statement to the two leaders and to his fellow primates of the Anglican Communion.

"I join in condemning such brutal actions and activities by all sides and groups," he said. "Inevitably and humanly, positions will be hardened and already strident voices are demanding justice. But justice is neither retaliation nor revenge. My own people are equally devastated and numbed by the events of this past week. Yet we must not be deterred from the quest for true justice and peace."

Anglican Communion News Service contributed to this article