An Emergency Appeal to Religious and Political Leaders
Sponsored by the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel,
in cooperation with the Three Faiths Forum of the United Kingdom,
the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) and
the World Conference for Religion and Peace (WCRP)
As men and women of faith, affiliated with the three monotheistic religions in Israel – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – we address this appeal to religious and political leaders on both sides of the conflict because we are urgently concerned about the escalating spiral of violence in Israel and Palestine, with a growing number of injured and dead.
Firstly we appeal to religious leaders in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities in this land at all levels. We ask them to raise their voices for sanity and for peace.
Secondly, we appeal to the political leaders – on both sides of the conflict – to return to the path of peace, through dialogue and negotiations. To achieve peace, it will be necessary for each side to stop blaming each other and to abide by agreements already reached. Rather, it is essential to re-engage in confidence-building measures that enable the development of cooperation and trust. In particular, we call upon Palestinian leaders to put an immediate end to all terrorist attacks on innocent Israeli civilians, especially by suicide bombers who distort religion and blaspheme the name of God; and we call upon the Israel government to end the invasion of Palestinian cities without delay and to prevent any further loss of Palestinian lives.
The public is invited to join ICCI members for Prayers and Reflections for Peace onThursday, April 11, 2002, at 17:00 at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem