Interfaith Delegation
Pushes for Ceasefire with
US Senators
 
Rabbi
Leonard Beerman, Dr. Maher Hathout and Rev. George
Regas with Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara
Boxer |
Washington,
DC: On Monday, July 31, Dr. Maher Hathout, Rev. George Regas
and Rabbi Leonard Beerman met with Senator Dianne Feinstein
(D-CA) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in their Senate
office building in Washington DC to discuss the recent crisis
in the Middle East. The three religious leaders expressed
a commitment to peace and human rights and articulated the
need for an immediate cease-fire to the escalating violence
in the Middle East.
Hathout, Regas and Beerman previously held an interfaith
vigil to end the occupation on July 16 at the Islamic Center
of Southern California.
The three leaders have also worked since 1991 to end war
in the Middle East. Their trip to DC attempted to raise
the level of consciousness on behalf of people of faith.
The interfaith delegation expressed the need for voices
of peace to be heard by national elected officials.
Both Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein expressed their
desire to engage with the Muslim community and with the
larger interfaith community to discuss the importance of
dialogue among all three groups. Senator Boxer committed
to a press conference with these three leaders in order
to enhance the level of discourse on the Middle East. Senator
Feinstein also stated the importance of meeting with the
Muslim community in California upon her return to the state.
"Today represents a positive step for increasing the
role of the peace and justice communities with decision-makers,"
stated MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati. Both meetings
were a positive step towards civil discourse. MPAC urges
the community to contact Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein
to thank them for being exemplary in their inclusion of
all sides of discourse on the Middle East.”
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