Interfaith Group Urges U.S. To Press For Middle East Agreement

By Nicole Neroulias
Religion News Service

(RNS) A broad coalition of U.S. Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders has backed the Obama administration's efforts to broker peace between Israel and Palestinians.

Members of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East met Wednesday (Sept. 29) with National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The coalition called for "active, fair and firm U.S. leadership for Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace."

"We believe that concerted, sustained U.S. leadership for peace is essential," the coalition said. "And we know that time is not on the side of peace, that delay is not an option."

The group has expressed faith in a two-state solution since forming in 2003. Its latest statement was signed by 15 Christian leaders representing Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, evangelical and mainline Protestant denominations; six rabbis and a professor from Judaism's Reform and Reconstructionist movements; and six Muslims representing the Islamic Society of North America and other groups.

"One of the biggest obstacles to peace in the Middle East is cynicism," said Bishop Howard Hubbard, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace.

"As people of faith, we must remember that with God all things are possible. The human spirit can overcome even the longest and most violent of conflicts."

Comments

[Manhajsadiqeen]

07:29 AM on 10/02/2010

It will not happen! Until someone in the region obtains the muscle that could bring the Israelis to the table, until then, their will be double talk and treachery at every turn by the Israelis.
Mr Abbas, even though he has no support except from a few Muslims and the west, is trying in earnest to get something done, but the Palestinians are occupied, beaten and enslaved, their land being taken and build on by the Israelis; he will not get in concessions from this harden and racist Israeli government.
The Muslim world is urging Mr. Abbas to pull up and get away from these meetings which are nothing but a sham to please America.
The fear is, a wider insurgency that would target Israeli civilians and the slaughter of the Palestinians.
At this point, many Islamic countries are fed up with no action and no peace, this is dangerous and could signal a change of attitudes that could result in more violence directed at Israel in unconventional ways

[MAlas]

08:21 PM on 10/02/2010

At this point, many Islamic countries are fed up with no action and no peace, this is dangerous and could signal a change of attitudes that could result in more violence directed at Israel in unconventional ways

You mean Muslim countries don't give 2 cents about the Pali plight, nor their own people, if that were the case "fed up", more action would be taken by the powerful KSA that could easily scold America and turn Palestine into a heaven on earth...why they aren't doing so, is the darn question that s bugging ppl like me...

[Manhajsadiqeen]

02:57 AM on 10/03/2010

Unconventional warfare would be terror related offenses taken against Israel, this is what I fear would transpire.
KSA, Kuwaiti, Jordan, Qatar all have outstanding security MOU's with America and would dare to break this agreement by covertly aiding insurgencies to attack Israel.
There are enough wealthy Saudi and other Muslimeen from the other countries who, I believe are funding the insurgencies in the Muslim Lands.
Any person seeing the injustice, occupation and genocidal tactics deployed by Israel want an end to this tragedy. And, as you have your right to voice your displeasure with the Muslimeen, so too I have my right to voice my displeasure at the actions taken by America and Israel on Islamic issues, namely, Palestinian, Iraqi, Afghans and Pakistanis.

[LLelantra]

06:52 AM on 10/02/2010

All these leaders are safely ensconced within the U.S. protected by a massive military, a functional legal system, and piles of food and money. Israel has been under siege since its inception, with its adversaries murderous enthusiasm periodically waxing and waning. Meanwhile the ordinary arabs in country are picked at with daily indignities - they can't put 2 sticks together without goons on either side knocking them aside. They can't move and they can't prosper. 2 state, 1 state, no state does not matter if a goon is in charge, and these american leaders always pick (or are fooled by) the goon.

[westral]

04:16 AM on 10/02/2010

The Israelis are building settlements on what was to be Palestinian land so quickly that there will soon be none left to "hand over" for a second state..

[cuniverse]

08:52 PM on 10/01/2010

very good !! Let the light shine,

[Zanubiyah]

08:30 PM on 10/01/2010

Unfortunatly...

The moral answer to this conflict isnt the same as the poltical and ideological answers that polticians pundits, people who make industry of hate and war machines, religious leaders with agendas to dominate the world, and so on.

The problem with an interfaith group is, they want a moral answer...the answer every human being knows is the right one...the people in charge and who 'support' the people in charge want to see the status quo because they beneifit from it.

[Nicole Neroulias]

03:22 PM on 10/01/2010

The full statement appears on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website. Here are the names of the Jews and Muslims who signed it:

JEWISH LEADERS
--Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President, Union of Reform Judaism
--Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
--Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus, President, Central Conference of American Rabbis
--Rabbi Peter Knobel, Past President, Central Conference of American Rabbis
--Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Rector, American Jewish University
--Dr. Carl Sheingold, Former Executive Vice President, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
--Rabbi Amy Small, Past President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly

MUSLIM LEADERS
--Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, National Director, Islamic Society of North America
--Imam Mohamed Magid, President, ISNA
--Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim Chaplain, Georgetown University
--Dawud Assad, President Emeritus, Council of Mosques
--Eide Alawan, Interfaith Office for Outreach, Islamic Center of America
--Iftekhar A. Hai, Founding Director, United Muslims of America

[Nicole Neroulias]

03:21 PM on 10/01/2010

The full statement appears on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website. Here are the names of the Jews and Muslims who signed it:

JEWISH LEADERS
--Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President, Union of Reform Judaism
--Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
--Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus, President, Central Conference of American Rabbis
--Rabbi Peter Knobel, Past President, Central Conference of American Rabbis
--Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Rector, American Jewish University
--Dr. Carl Sheingold, Former Executive Vice President, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
--Rabbi Amy Small, Past President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly

MUSLIM LEADERS
--Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, National Director, Islamic Society of North America
--Imam Mohamed Magid, President, ISNA
--Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim Chaplain, Georgetown University
--Dawud Assad, President Emeritus, Council of Mosques
--Eide Alawan, Interfaith Office for Outreach, Islamic Center of America
I--ftekhar A. Hai, Founding Director, United Muslims of America

[cuniverse]

08:57 PM on 10/01/2010

GREAT !!!! LETTING THE LIGHT INTO A VERY DARK PLACE.
Keep it up boys, senility and sensibility is born!!!
Lets hope it is reaches puberty

[AxisV]

03:14 PM on 10/01/2010

The two state solution is a dead end. Israel should formally annex the West Bank territories, and the Palestinian population should be integrated into Israeli society and given full and equal rights as Israeli citizens with laws created to protect minority Gentile populations from facing discrimination in housing, voting, movement, and education.

[jayrag123]

04:18 PM on 10/01/2010

agree......how is it possible for Palestine to be a state.
Israel controls everything that goes on in Palestine.
It is a PR campaign to have a two state solution. Never will happen.
Israel even controls the electricity and water inside Gaza and probably the West bank also. How is Palestine a state............................

[Lennon Stravato]

07:03 PM on 10/01/2010

A one state solution has the best chance of bringing a decent quality of life to the majority of Palestinians, but I fear that the number of militants bent on destroying Israel, would continue to lead to violence in the short run, which would produce a form of second class citizenship that would lead back into the cycle of violence

[MilesToGo]

01:36 PM on 10/01/2010

This is an encouraging development, when so often such intransigent ethnic and religious conflict extends beyond the grasp of traditional diplomacy. At their core and through their true doctrines, all the monotheistic religions have a mandate to seek peace in every way possible, and not to see the "Other" as an enemy. Any political solution will be enhanced by the comity and mutual respect provided by religious leaders.

[sunshine14]

10:23 AM on 10/01/2010

Love all for all are dearly loved, for God created all, and God died and paid the debts of our crimes our sins, for all of us. We are all sinners.

[Gurthee]

02:45 PM on 10/01/2010

If "god" created all, who created "god"? How did "god" die and why should anyone care about this "god" anymore if it's dead? Why would a "god" create an imperfect/faulty creature in its own image unless it too was imperfect/faulty?
Zeus is angry and is going to release the Krakken unless you apologize for your transgressions.

[Lennon Stravato]

07:04 PM on 10/01/2010

Maybe an intro to religion class at your local university would help you out

[Marc Menard]

06:43 AM on 10/02/2010

He created... we perverted through sin. "In His image" refers to original creation. "Where ignorance is bliss, it's folly to be wise."

[sunshine14]

10:21 AM on 10/01/2010

When will all learn understand, Christ did not come to die on the cross for land, did HE?. God said: the earth is my foot stool.
God said: in His wrath, the second earth, He will destroy by Fire, for man still to this day, has not yet changed his hearten heart.
God said He is coming with a New Heaven (earth) and a New Jerusaleam, so God I ask is not pleased with the one on earth?
We are all called to become children of Israel, Israelites, those who Bless Abraham, God will Bless, all who accept Christ as their lord and savior, God's Grace, are now from the seed of Abraham. There was not one tribe of Israel, but 12 Tribes of Israel (Jacob)  all scattered through the earth, because sadly they disobeyed God's laws, instead of receiving the blessings they received the curses.

[Gurthee]

02:46 PM on 10/01/2010

Coocoocachoo.

[AxisV]

03:19 PM on 10/01/2010

Curses, huh? Bummer....

[Lennon Stravato]

09:00 AM on 10/01/2010

It is difficult to imagine any form of sustainable peace in this region anytime in the coming decades. There are obviously steps that can be taken to reduce tensions, but you cannot overcome the militant brain washing of children with a political solution - cultural changes over the course of a generation or two are necessary.

[MAlas]

08:17 PM on 10/02/2010

There is...hopefully the next generation of Muslim leaders will be rational, a "peoples" person rather than mind slaves...