American Muslims' Interfaith
Initiative to Bring Peace in Palestine
By Kaleem Kawaja
Board Member
United Muslims of America
Several major American Muslim organizations
led by the Islamic Society of North America have formed a
coalition with religious leaders of major US multi-denominational
Christian and Jewish religious organizations, to usher peace
between Palestinians and Israel. The coalition is called the
National Interreligous Leadership Initiative.
On February 28, 2006, a meeting was held to this affect in
Washington DC of thirty-six Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders,
including heads of 25 national organizations. On that day
the coalition launched a new initiative in the form of a nationwide
appeal, urging President Bush to make Israeli-Palestinian
peace an urgent priority of the US policy in the coming months.
In view of Hamas’ victory in the Palestinian elections,
religious leaders wrote a letter to the President saying,
"It is more important than ever that Palestinians be
assured that the United States, in coordination with the Quartet,
will provide consistent and determined leadership for progress
toward peace between Palestinians and Israel".
In the letter to the President, religious leaders expressed
support for the President's "careful response to the
Palestinian democratic election results" and for the
US "not acting precipitously to cut off aid to the Palestinian
people." While urging the Bush Administration to work
immediately "to get the Palestinian Authority and Israel
to agree on a lasting ceasefire", they also supported
that "Hamas recognize Israel and consistent with the
documented views of Palestinian and Israeli majorities, join
the international consensus for a two state solution."
The religious leaders held a press conference on the afternoon
of February 28 at the National Press Club, Washington DC,
and later
met with Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy
and Public Affairs, US State Department.
The following religious leaders attended the above meetings
and endorsed the initiative.
Christian Leaders
His Eminence, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington
John Carr, Dir. Social Development & World Peace, US Conf.
of Catholic Bishops
Fr. Constandinos Pavlakos, Representing Greek Orthodox Archdioces
in America
Vartkess Valbalian for Bishop Vicken, Armenian Orthodox Church
in America
Bishop Ray W. Chamberlain for the Council of Bishops, United
Methodist Church
Bishop Allen Barlett, for Presiding Bishop Griswold, Episcopal
Church
Maureen Shea, Director of Government Relations, Episcopal
Church
Rev. Gareth Icenogle, Pastor, Nat'l Presbyterian Church, for
Mainline Evangelicals
Rev. Dennis Frado for Bishop Hanson, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
Catherine Gordon for Rev. Cliff Kirpatrick, Stated Clerk,
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Chris Hobgood, Past President, Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ)
Rev. John Deckenback for Rev. John Thomas, President, United
Church of Christ
Jewish Leaders
Rabbi Paul Menitoff, Exe. Vice President Emeritus, Central
Conference of America
Rabbi Alvin M. Sugarman, Vice President, A Different Future
Mark Pelavin, Associate Director, Religious Action Center
of Reform Judaism
Rabbi Amy Small, Past President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical
Association
Rabbi Brett Isserow, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria,
VA
Muslim Leaders
Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, Secretary General, Islamic Society
of North America
Eide Alawan, Liaison for Imam Hassan Qazwini, Islamic Center
of America, Detroit
Dawud Assad, Preident Emeritus, Council of Mosques, USA
Kaleem Kawaja, Board Member, United Muslims of America
Imam Yahya Hendi, Chaplain, Georgetown University
National Co-Coordinators
US Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East
Dr. Bruce E. Wexler
Ronald J. Young.
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