Thursday, January 13, 2005
by Maureen Shea

WASHINGTON, DC - The Rt. Rev. Allen Bartlett, representing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, joined 34 of the nation's most prominent Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders to announce a major appeal to President Bush citing their united support for renewed U.S. leadership in the Middle East peace process.

Bartlett, the retired bishop of Pennsylvania, noted: "The results of the recent elections prove the Palestinian ability to function under very difficult conditions and their desire for democracy and longing for an end to conflict. They face huge obstacles and hard choices. This gathering of religious leaders underscores this moment as a unique opportunity for the United States to step forward with strong and persistent leadership, engaged with both Israelis and the Palestinians, to bring a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict." Bartlett has been involved in Middle East issues for over 10 years, including spending a portion of his 1993 sabbatical at St. George's College in Jerusalem. Presently, Bartlett is chairman of the Ecumenical Working Group for Middle East Peace in Philadelphia.

Local Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in 15 major cities, including Atlanta Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Hartford-New Haven, Long Island, Baltimore, Charlotte, Durham and Washington, DC, publicly endorsed the Appeal to the President and are committing to meeting with their congressional representatives to generate support from Congress.

The religious leaders meeting in Washington are members of an unprecedented collaboration among the three Abrahamic faiths known as the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East and formed in December 2003. They view the election of new Palestinian leadership and Israeli plans to withdraw from Gaza as creating both an historic opportunity to accomplish a negotiated two-state solution and a moral imperative for the President to exercise determined leadership to help realize that possibility. They see resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as an essential step in decreasing support for terrorism worldwide.

Christian leaders include two Roman Catholic Cardinals, Primates of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches, heads of the Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Methodist, United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Protestant denominations, President of the National Council of Churches, President of World Vision, three other prominent Christian evangelical leaders, and editors of the two largest national Christian publications.

Jewish leaders include President and Executive Vice President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Executive Vice President of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Chancellor of the University of Judaism and the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Muslim leaders include leaders of the largest national Muslim organizations - Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America, General Secretary of the Islamic Circle of North America - as well as head of The Mosque Cares, former President of the Council of Mosques, and leaders of United Muslims of America and American Sufi Muslim Association.

The religious leaders are united in support of a viable, independent, democratic Palestinian state alongside the existing state of Israel, with enduring peace and security for both peoples. For over a year they have sought a meeting with President Bush to appeal for his leadership in the peace process. They plan to work with Members of Congress to build support for a reinvigorated and concerted U.S. led effort for more rapid progress on the Road Map.

In their Appeal, the religious leaders specifically call on President Bush to:

. Appoint a Special Presidential Envoy with a full-time commitment to the region, in coordination with the European Union, Russian Federation and U.N. Secretary General;

. Negotiate a timetable for specific, simultaneous steps to be taken by the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government;

. Take the lead, in light of Israeli plans to withdraw from Gaza, to mobilize increased international economic aid (with effective controls by a credible institution such as the World Bank) to build-up the Palestinian Authority's capacity to provide security, prevent violent attacks on Israelis, deliver humanitarian aid, vital services, and development assistance to the Palestinian people.

. Support benchmark principles for a mutually acceptable peace agreement drawn from earlier official negotiations and from Israeli-Palestinian civil society initiatives such as the People's Voice and the Geneva Accords.

The religious leaders conclude their Appeal by declaring,

"MR. PRESIDENT, based on the deepest beliefs in our three Abrahamic religious traditions and on past progress and current new opportunities, we believe peace in possible. And we believe determined U.S. leadership is essential for achieving peace.

"We commit our prayers and active support for your efforts, and we will work to mobilize our communities' support nationwide."

Episcopal News Service
Maureen Shea is director of government relations for the Episcopal Church.