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ANNAPOLIS PEACE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT SAID TO 'BRING HOPE' TO MIDDLE EAST
Episcopal-Life, NY
http://www.episcopal-life.org/79901_92142_ENG_H TM.htm
Nov 28 2007
Religious leaders call for prayers for peace conference
[Episcopal News Service] An announcement out of the Middle East peace
conference in Annapolis, Maryland that the leaders of the Palestinian
Authority and of Israel have agreed to begin immediate negotiations
for a peace settlement to be reached by December 2008 "brings hope
to Israelis and Palestinians alike," Maureen Shea, director of the
Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, said November 27.
"President Bush and Secretary of State Rice are to be commended for
their efforts, and particularly for inviting Syria to this historic
meeting," Shea said.
She noted, however, that "realizing the goal of two states living side
by side in peace will require the continued sustained commitment of
both the president and the secretary of state."
The New York Times reported that the agreement creates a framework
for talks aimed at creating a democratic Palestinian state that would
exist peacefully with Israel. The talks could begin within weeks. The
Annapolis agreement does address the issues involved in creating and
implementing such a two-state solution.
Delegations from 49 countries and international organizations are
gathered for the conference at the United States Naval Academy.
As a sign of how difficult the talks will be, the Times reported,
violence broke out during demonstrations in the West Bank when security
forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas clashed with
Islamists who brand him a traitor for taking part in the Annapolis
talks.
Meanwhile, in Annapolis, St. Anne's Episcopal Church is hosting events,
coinciding with the conference, "designed to promote peace in the
Middle East through dialogue, discussion and education," according
to the congregation's website.
On the evening of November 26, the parish was the venue for a public
forum on peace in the Middle East headlined by Israeli and the
Palestinian peace negotiators from the Geneva Initiative. The forum,
which included information booths and educational videos as well as
a panel discussion, question-and-answer session, and a candlelight
walk for peace, was offered in cooperation with the Annapolis Friends
Meeting.
Ameinu, a Jewish organization which promotes a just peace in the
Middle East, organized a rally with other Jewish groups in the St.
Anne's churchyard the afternoon of November 27. That evening
the Vineeta Foundation in cooperation with at least half a dozen
cosponsoring organizations is holding a People's Peace Conference to
run concurrently with the official peace conference.
Prior to the start of the conference, Jewish, Christian and Muslim
leaders of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative (NILI)
issued a call for prayers for peace. The Episcopal Church is a
founding member of NILI. The six prayers written by leaders of the
three Abrahamic traditions are below.
Shea represented Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori at a
recent meeting with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
R. Nicholas Burns with a NILI delegation. The delegation was united
in its support for "active, determined and consistent U.S. leadership
for peace and raised specific concerns related to the conference and
follow-up efforts," according to a NILI news release.
The religious leaders emphasized the importance of simultaneous steps
on the ground by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that can help
restore people's hopes that peace is possible, the release said. The
delegation told Burns the steps should include a comprehensive
ceasefire in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; the Palestinian Authority
blocking illegal arms shipments and disarming militias; and the
Government of Israel freezing expansion of settlements, withdrawing
"illegal outposts," and easing movement for Palestinians by reducing
the number of military check points.
The religious leaders are concerned that the split in Palestinian
governance between the West Bank and Gaza is incompatible with a
durable peace agreement. Acknowledging the sensitivity of this issue
for the Bush administration and for their communities, the leaders
urged U.S. support for efforts, probably by others, to encourage a
unified Palestinian government capable of representing the West Bank
and Gaza, and committed to recognizing Israel, rejecting violence and
negotiating a two-state solution with Israel, according to the release.
The leaders also told Burns they believe an important goal of the
conference should be to restart Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli
negotiations for peace, the release said.
In addition to Shea, the delegation that met with Burns included
Theodore Cardinal McCarrick; Rabbi David Saperstein of Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism, Dr. Sayyid Syeed of the Islamic
Society of North America; United Methodist Church Bishop Ann Sherer,
the Rev. Tigran Karpatyen representing Armenian Orthodox Church
Archbishop Vicken Aykasian, Dennis Frado representing Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, and NILI
staff members Dr. Stephen Colecchi and Ronald Young.
Episcopal-Life, NY
http://www.episcopal-life.org/79901_92142_ENG_H TM.htm
Nov 28 2007
Religious leaders call for prayers for peace conference
[Episcopal News Service] An announcement out of the Middle East peace
conference in Annapolis, Maryland that the leaders of the Palestinian
Authority and of Israel have agreed to begin immediate negotiations
for a peace settlement to be reached by December 2008 "brings hope
to Israelis and Palestinians alike," Maureen Shea, director of the
Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, said November 27.
"President Bush and Secretary of State Rice are to be commended for
their efforts, and particularly for inviting Syria to this historic
meeting," Shea said.
She noted, however, that "realizing the goal of two states living side
by side in peace will require the continued sustained commitment of
both the president and the secretary of state."
The New York Times reported that the agreement creates a framework
for talks aimed at creating a democratic Palestinian state that would
exist peacefully with Israel. The talks could begin within weeks. The
Annapolis agreement does address the issues involved in creating and
implementing such a two-state solution.
Delegations from 49 countries and international organizations are
gathered for the conference at the United States Naval Academy.
As a sign of how difficult the talks will be, the Times reported,
violence broke out during demonstrations in the West Bank when security
forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas clashed with
Islamists who brand him a traitor for taking part in the Annapolis
talks.
Meanwhile, in Annapolis, St. Anne's Episcopal Church is hosting events,
coinciding with the conference, "designed to promote peace in the
Middle East through dialogue, discussion and education," according
to the congregation's website.
On the evening of November 26, the parish was the venue for a public
forum on peace in the Middle East headlined by Israeli and the
Palestinian peace negotiators from the Geneva Initiative. The forum,
which included information booths and educational videos as well as
a panel discussion, question-and-answer session, and a candlelight
walk for peace, was offered in cooperation with the Annapolis Friends
Meeting.
Ameinu, a Jewish organization which promotes a just peace in the
Middle East, organized a rally with other Jewish groups in the St.
Anne's churchyard the afternoon of November 27. That evening
the Vineeta Foundation in cooperation with at least half a dozen
cosponsoring organizations is holding a People's Peace Conference to
run concurrently with the official peace conference.
Prior to the start of the conference, Jewish, Christian and Muslim
leaders of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative (NILI)
issued a call for prayers for peace. The Episcopal Church is a
founding member of NILI. The six prayers written by leaders of the
three Abrahamic traditions are below.
Shea represented Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori at a
recent meeting with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
R. Nicholas Burns with a NILI delegation. The delegation was united
in its support for "active, determined and consistent U.S. leadership
for peace and raised specific concerns related to the conference and
follow-up efforts," according to a NILI news release.
The religious leaders emphasized the importance of simultaneous steps
on the ground by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that can help
restore people's hopes that peace is possible, the release said. The
delegation told Burns the steps should include a comprehensive
ceasefire in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; the Palestinian Authority
blocking illegal arms shipments and disarming militias; and the
Government of Israel freezing expansion of settlements, withdrawing
"illegal outposts," and easing movement for Palestinians by reducing
the number of military check points.
The religious leaders are concerned that the split in Palestinian
governance between the West Bank and Gaza is incompatible with a
durable peace agreement. Acknowledging the sensitivity of this issue
for the Bush administration and for their communities, the leaders
urged U.S. support for efforts, probably by others, to encourage a
unified Palestinian government capable of representing the West Bank
and Gaza, and committed to recognizing Israel, rejecting violence and
negotiating a two-state solution with Israel, according to the release.
The leaders also told Burns they believe an important goal of the
conference should be to restart Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli
negotiations for peace, the release said.
In addition to Shea, the delegation that met with Burns included
Theodore Cardinal McCarrick; Rabbi David Saperstein of Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism, Dr. Sayyid Syeed of the Islamic
Society of North America; United Methodist Church Bishop Ann Sherer,
the Rev. Tigran Karpatyen representing Armenian Orthodox Church
Archbishop Vicken Aykasian, Dennis Frado representing Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, and NILI
staff members Dr. Stephen Colecchi and Ronald Young.