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Local Interreligious Leadership Teams
In Support of the Road Map to Peace in the Middle East
View media coverage of Local Interreligious Leadership Teams
Purpose: Respond to the call of the National Interreligious Leadership Delegation and help build a national constituency to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Based on the model of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative, efforts are underway to build a nationwide network of local interreligious "Walk the Road to Peace" committees. In some local areas, an already established interfaith group might take on this role; in other areas local Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders could create an ad hoc committee. Local initiatives could also provide support to Arab-Jewish peace and reconciliation projects on the ground.
Persons planning to participate in the National Network of Local Interreligious Leadership Teams should subscribe to the following Principles of Cooperation:
We are American Jews, Christians and Muslims who believe working together for Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace reflects fundamental teachings in our religious traditions.
Recognizing and appreciating the deep, precious bonds many of us have with different sides of this conflict and how these bonds sometimes cause us to have different and conflicting viewpoints, we believe our areas of agreement are more important than our disagreements, and we commit ourselves to work together conscientiously and sensitively to emphasize our common agenda for peace.
Echoing the Alexandria Declaration by Middle Eastern Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders based on core teachings in all three of our religious traditions, we unequivocally condemn killing of innocents and call for an end to all acts of violence. What each side needs most - real security for Israelis and an end of occupation for Palestinians - cannot be achieved by violence but only by negotiations.
We support the creation of a viable, independent, democratic Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, with peace and security for both peoples.
We are encouraged by many Israelis and Palestinians who are working together for peace, and we believe that current civil society projects such as the Geneva Accord, the People's Voice, and One Voice, as well as earlier official Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian negotiations provide benchmark priniciples and ideas for peace agreements which could be acceptable by majorities on both sides.
We support U.S. leadership for peace, coordinated with the EEU, Russia and the U.N. Secretary General, and consistent with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. Whether it is called the Road Map or by another name, we believe active, determined U.S. leadership in pursuing negotiations and effective public monitoring are essential to achieving progress toward peace.
We join together to learn from each other and to work for active, fair and firm U.S. efforts to help Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab states achieve peace. We seek by our prayers and active working together to build bridges in our communities and broad interreligious cooperation and action for peace.
Join, Create or Sign-up a Local Interreligious Leadership Team:
Online: Contac Form.
Possible Activities:
Local teams can develop activities best suited to their communites. Walk the Road to Peace staff will provide suggestions, information and supporting materials.
Possible activities include:
Visits by the team to their Senators and Representatives to Congress to tell them about the national and local constituencies that support active U.S. leadership in the peace process.
Local interreligious events to build bridges among faith communities.
Host speakers from organizations of Israeli and Palestinians who are working together in mutual respect for mutual benefit.
Establish a connection between your local community and one of the organizations in which Israelis and Palestinians, or Arabs and Jews in Israel, are working together (provide link to list of organizations), and support that organization through fund raising and other activities.
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