Sunday, December 25 2005 11:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bethlehem (West Bank): The top Roman Catholic official in the Holy Land called on Israel and the Palestinians to halt years of violence and begin a new era of peace making during his midnight Mass sermon on Christmas Eve.

Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah said the two sides should put the past on hold to make room for a new future to begin.

He spoke while celebrating mass at St Catherine's Church, adjacent to the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Sabbah also called for an end to Israel's killing of Palestinian militants, saying the practice has failed to improve security or halt the cycle of violence.