June 17, 2005

A historic 90-minute video conference on peace in the Holy Land, moderated by television journalist Dan Rather, will be held on June 26, at 2:30 pm EST.

Anglican Bishop Riah Abu El Assal, of Jerusalem, along with other religious, and civil society leaders from Jerusalem and Washington, DC, will make statements about the possibilities of Palestinian-Israeli peace. Discussions with inter-religious audiences, from more than 30 cities across the U.S., will be hosted by local Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders. Participants are encouraged to break bread together and engage in planning for local initiatives.

The purpose of the video conference is to demonstrate to the world the breadth, depth, and commitment to action of the growing collective voice to help resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The video will promote dialogue and collective action among Christians, Jews, and Muslims to urge, and support active U.S. policy to take advantage of the historic new opportunities, and help achieve Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Participants from Jerusalem include:

• Rt. Reverend Riah Abu El Assal, the Bishop of Jerusalem of the Anglican Church;

• Sheikh Imad Falouji, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council from Jabalia, Gaza;

• Rabbi David Rosen, Jerusalem based International Director of Inter-religious Affairs, American Jewish Committee. (All are signers of the Alexandria Declaration to end violence and restore dignity in the Holy Land.)

• Avraham Burg, former speaker of the Knesset, Co-Author of the Geneva Accord Model Peace Agreement;

• Sari Nusseibeh, president, Al Quds University, co-founder of the People's Voice Peace Initiative;

• Dr. Tsvia Walden, board of directors of the Peres Center and Geneva Initiative;

• Rania Kharma, assistant to the finance minister, Palestinian Authority; and

• George Sa'adeh and Rami Elhanan, members of the Parents Circle: Bereaved Families for Peace and Reconciliation

Participants from Washington, D.C. include:

• Rabbi Paul Menitoff, executive director of the Central Conference of American Rabbis; *Serge Duss, vice president and director of Public Policy and Advocacy, World Vision;

• Rev. Dr. J. Martin Bailey, special advisor, Churches for Middle East Peace and author;

• Imam Yahya Hendi, chaplain, Georgetown University; and

• Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh C.S.C., president emeritus University of Notre Dame and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal (pre-recorded.)

This conference is sponsored by A Different Future – http://www.adifferentfuture.org/ – in cooperation with the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace – http://www.walktheroadtopeace.org/.

To find a location near you or sponsor a discussion, go to http://www.adifferentfuture.org/.

Episcopal News Service