Jerusalem, Israel.  The following Statement was created by the Abrahamic Reunion CC at our meeting in Faradis on Sept. 6 where we held a public interfaith gathering for 60 people which was addressed by local rabbis, imams, priests, and spiritual leaders.

We also held small group discussions focusing on our reactions to the war and our commitment to continue our interfaith work together.

With the below statement, we are hoping to change the conversation regarding peace in our region.  We want world leaders and aid agencies to recognize that a strong commitment of will and money for people-to-people programs is necessary to change attitudes from vengeance to tolerance, and enable ceasefires to become an opening and opportunity to create permanent peace rather than a temporary lull in the fighting.

We know there are many other things that could be said.  We know that others may have different opinions.  This is simply our offering to the discussion on ending violence and building peace in the Holy Land.  It is a reflection of our own work and experience of how peace exists already among us and can be increased exponentially with the proper will and resources.

With love and respect,
Elana Rozenman, URI Global Council Trustee, Jerusalem

September 11, 2006
Jerusalem

A CALL FOR RECONCILIATION

Given the recent conflict in Lebanon, Gaza and Northern Israel, relations between Jews and Arabs in the region have reached an all time low. A group of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze (Mowahhidoon) men and women religious leaders, the Abrahamic Reunion helps to rebuild trust among the wounded family of Abraham and empowers the voice of moderate religious leaders.  For the past two years they have held public interfaith meetings in their local towns and in Barcelona and Istanbul.  Their image of religious men and women with varied head coverings and flowing robes and caftans walking together in solidarity down main streets of Tel Aviv or Tel Sheva demonstrates their dedication to building peace in the Holy Land.

STATEMENT:  In the light of the recent conflicts in our region and in remembrance today of the effects of violence in our world, the Abrahamic Reunion reaffirms our commitment to embodying an alternative to violence.
Our work is to show by example the cooperation among the faiths on a small scale that we hope to encourage on a larger scale.

It is our destiny as the children of Abraham to live together. All the prophets teach us to love your neighbor as yourself; it’s now time to put this teaching into practice. Though our own communities have suffered in the recent war, we hold compassion for all the victims.

We urge all parties to uphold the ceasefire and through negotiations to resolve the core issues of the conflict.  Unless consciousness shifts so that the people see that a true and just peace is possible, any ceasefire is likely to be short-lived.

Sustainable peace-building requires more than a cessation of violence, more than reconstruction of the physical infrastructure destroyed by war. Peace-building requires building relationships, gaining trust, and establishing conditions where people can experience their common humanity and learn to live side by side.

Large scale peace and reconciliation efforts have worked in other area of global conflict, such as in Northern Ireland, South Africa. Grassroots efforts and the leadership of people of faith made peace possible and sustainable, when backed up with the financial resources necessary to make real change.  In Northern Ireland alone, over $650 million was donated over a period of five years for dialogue between 250,000 Catholics and Protestants – one-sixth of the population.

We urge the governments and leaders of the world to assist and support a process of reconciliation and peace-building in the Holy Land. We call on the governments of the world, the United Nations, the European Commission, aid organizations, and private foundations to immediately fund a large-scale dialogue and reconciliation program between Jews, Christians, Muslims and Jews. An immediate infusion of no less than $50 million dollars to begin the process of reconciliation and healing is urgent and essential.

With love and respect,

Founding Members of the Abrahamic Reunion:

Elias Jabbour, Founder of the House of Hope, Shefar’amer
Sheikh Hussein Abu Rukun, Elder and spokesperson of the Druze (Mowahhidoon) faith, Isfiya
Rabbi Menachem Froman, Tekoa
Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari, Sheikh of Uzbeki Naqshbandi Sufis, Jerusalem
Reverend Abouna Abu Hatoum, Minister of the Greek Melekite Church, Nazareth
Rabbi Yosef Hadane, Chief Rabbi of the Ethiopian Jews of Israel, Tel Aviv
Imam Khalil Al-Baz, Imam and spokesperson for the Bedouin, Tel Sheva
Ibrahim El-Hawa, Peace Ambassador, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
Elana Rozenman, United Religions Initiative (URI) Global Council Trustee, Jerusalem
Eliyahu McLean, Director of Jerusalem Peacemakers, Jerusalem
Ibtisam Mahamid, Coordinator of Arab-Jewish co-existence activities, Faradis
Deacon Jiries Mansour, Deacon of the Greek Catholic Church in Rama, Galilee
Shahabuddin David Less, Worldwide Director, Universal Worship, USA
Kothreneda Anna Less, President, Rising Tide International, USA
Ferishta Andrea Blanch, Director, Centers on Conflict and Women and Violence, USA

For more information, contact co-coordinators of the Abrahamic Reunion
Eliyahu McLean -  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Khalil Albaz