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JEWISH, MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS MEET TO CALL FOR AN END TO BLOODSHED
By JEREMY SHARON
07/09/2014 21:44
http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Jewish-Muslim-and-Christian-leaders-meet-to-call-for-an-end-to-bloodshed-362143
The meeting was called in light of the outbreak of hostilities between
Israel and the Hamas regime in Gaza, as well as the severe tensions
and communal violence that has occurred in recent days.
Religious leaders meeting Photo: JEREMY SHARON The Forum of Religious
leaders in Israel convened together with President elect Reuven
Rivlin at the offices of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel on Wednesday
afternoon and issued a joint statement calling for an end to blood
shed in the region.
Among the group were Chief Rabbi David Lau, Sheikh Muhammed Kiwan,
an imam and chairman of the Council of Muslim Leaders in Israel,
Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Theophillis III, Armenian Patriarch Nourhan
Manougian and spiritual leader of the Druse community in Israel Sheikh
Muafak Tarif, as well as several other notable clerics.
The meeting was called in light of the outbreak of hostilities between
Israel and the Hamas regime in Gaza, as well as the severe tensions
and communal violence that has occurred in recent days.
Speaking first, Lau said that everyone should condemn violence
against innocent people, noting that he had vehemently denounced the
murder of Arab teenager Muhammed Abu Khdeir, as well as the slaying
of Jewish youths Naftali Fraenkel, Gil'ad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach
earlier this month.
"Sometimes there is no choice but to strike and to protect our
society," the chief rabbi continued however, but observed that the
IDF conducts a practice of warning people to evacuate areas which are
likely to be bombed to avoid harming civilians "as opposed to others
who fire missiles into population centers and harm innocents."
"I call on all everyone to protect and venerate life and its unique
value and to know how to respect our fellow man and to conduct
disagreements in a respectful and appropriate way which preserves
life," Lau concluded.
Rivlin echoed the chief rabbi's words, saying that there was
"an expectation from the religious leadership to unite in clear
condemnation of all violence and bloodshed."
"There is an especially heavy responsibility on religious leaders to
reduce the flames and lower tensions, and to find a way for the voice
of reason to prevail," he continued. "May we serve as guides for all
our communities. We are not doomed to live together but destined to
live together," Rivlin averred.
Kiwan called for all sides to promote "brotherhood, peace and respect,"
between societies and to do everything everything possible to advance
peace.
"I pray we may go out from this meeting with one voice that will
be heard throughout the world that we affirm that there is nothing
more precious than human life and any act of desecration must be
categorically condemned," Kiwan said.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophillis III said that Christian leaders
were committed to a mission of prayer for peace, reconciliation,
and said that peace would be achieved "not through tanks on both
banks of the river but through the eradication of prejudice, hatred
and bigotry and to try our best to make it clear that life is indeed
very holy because we are made in the image of God and so everyone is
entitled to freedom and respect regardless of colour, ethnicity or
religious affiliation."
By JEREMY SHARON
07/09/2014 21:44
http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Jewish-Muslim-and-Christian-leaders-meet-to-call-for-an-end-to-bloodshed-362143
The meeting was called in light of the outbreak of hostilities between
Israel and the Hamas regime in Gaza, as well as the severe tensions
and communal violence that has occurred in recent days.
Religious leaders meeting Photo: JEREMY SHARON The Forum of Religious
leaders in Israel convened together with President elect Reuven
Rivlin at the offices of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel on Wednesday
afternoon and issued a joint statement calling for an end to blood
shed in the region.
Among the group were Chief Rabbi David Lau, Sheikh Muhammed Kiwan,
an imam and chairman of the Council of Muslim Leaders in Israel,
Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Theophillis III, Armenian Patriarch Nourhan
Manougian and spiritual leader of the Druse community in Israel Sheikh
Muafak Tarif, as well as several other notable clerics.
The meeting was called in light of the outbreak of hostilities between
Israel and the Hamas regime in Gaza, as well as the severe tensions
and communal violence that has occurred in recent days.
Speaking first, Lau said that everyone should condemn violence
against innocent people, noting that he had vehemently denounced the
murder of Arab teenager Muhammed Abu Khdeir, as well as the slaying
of Jewish youths Naftali Fraenkel, Gil'ad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach
earlier this month.
"Sometimes there is no choice but to strike and to protect our
society," the chief rabbi continued however, but observed that the
IDF conducts a practice of warning people to evacuate areas which are
likely to be bombed to avoid harming civilians "as opposed to others
who fire missiles into population centers and harm innocents."
"I call on all everyone to protect and venerate life and its unique
value and to know how to respect our fellow man and to conduct
disagreements in a respectful and appropriate way which preserves
life," Lau concluded.
Rivlin echoed the chief rabbi's words, saying that there was
"an expectation from the religious leadership to unite in clear
condemnation of all violence and bloodshed."
"There is an especially heavy responsibility on religious leaders to
reduce the flames and lower tensions, and to find a way for the voice
of reason to prevail," he continued. "May we serve as guides for all
our communities. We are not doomed to live together but destined to
live together," Rivlin averred.
Kiwan called for all sides to promote "brotherhood, peace and respect,"
between societies and to do everything everything possible to advance
peace.
"I pray we may go out from this meeting with one voice that will
be heard throughout the world that we affirm that there is nothing
more precious than human life and any act of desecration must be
categorically condemned," Kiwan said.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophillis III said that Christian leaders
were committed to a mission of prayer for peace, reconciliation,
and said that peace would be achieved "not through tanks on both
banks of the river but through the eradication of prejudice, hatred
and bigotry and to try our best to make it clear that life is indeed
very holy because we are made in the image of God and so everyone is
entitled to freedom and respect regardless of colour, ethnicity or
religious affiliation."