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Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders meet with Under Secretary Karen Hughes
to urge President Bush to make Israeli-Palestinian peace an urgent priority

Press release
National Interreligious Leadership Initiative
for Peace in the Middle East
March 1, 2006

WASHINGTON – Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, representing heads of 25 national organizations, met with Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, on Tuesday, February 28 to follow-up their appeal to President Bush to make Israeli-Palestinian peace an urgent priority for U.S. policy in the coming months. In their Appeal letter to the President, the leaders said, "in light of Hamas' victory in the recent Palestinian democratic elections and the incapacitating illness of Ariel Sharon, it is more important than ever that Israelis and Palestinians be assured that the United States, in coordination with the Quartet, will provide consistent and determined leadership for peace." The leaders discussed ideas for working with Hughes' office and assured her that, "U.S. leadership for peace would evoke united support from the vast majority of their constituencies."

The religious leaders support a "careful U.S. response to Hamas' victory." They believe "it is essential to continue humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people." In contrast with legislation pending in Congress, they told Hughes they believe, "a decision about aid to the new Palestinian government should not be made until the government is formed and its policies become clear." While urging the United States "to work immediately for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, something that both sides could support, the leaders agree with President Bush's firm insistence that Hamas reject violence, recognize Israel, and, consistent with the documented views of Palestinian and Israeli majorities, accept the international consensus for a two-state solution to resolve the conflict.

The National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace that organized the Appeal was founded in 2003 and includes national leaders of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox churches, six major Protestant denominations, the President of World Vision and other prominent mainline Christian evangelical leaders; Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist Jewish leaders; and heads of major American Islamic organizations, including the Islamic Society of North America. In agreeing to publicize the Appeal, these organizations have a combined outreach to over 100 million Americans.

While deeply concerned over recent developments in Iraq and united in condemning all violence against innocents and destruction of holy sites, the religious leaders told Under Secretary Hughes they "believe the most important thing the United States can do that would send a positive message to the world, including especially the Muslim world, is for the President publicly to declare Israeli-Palestinian peace an urgent priority." They believe "achieving peace in Jerusalem and the Holy Land is not only essential for Israelis and Palestinians, but for reducing the threat of global terrorism and easing tensions among religious communities worldwide."

Acknowledging the new challenges, the religious leaders are united in urging the Bush Administration to take the following, positive steps:

• Press for an immediate, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

• Work to assure that the agreement on Gaza, negotiated by Secretary Rice, is fully implemented.

• Press both sides to implement their initial Road Map obligations.

• Appoint an on-the-ground special envoy to manage and monitor negotiations. The President's public support will be essential whether negotiations are managed directly by Secretary Rice or by a special envoy.

The Appeal to the President is being launched nationwide "to generate broad, public support, including bi-partisan Congressional support for active, fair and firm U.S. leadership for Israel-Palestinian peace." The Appeal will be distributed in thousands of Jewish, Christian and Muslim congregations across the country and people who agree with its message urged to write to the White House, State Department and to Congress.

The National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace www.walktheroadtopeace.org is a project of
A Different Future www.adifferentfuture.org, a non-profit NGO of academics, civic and religious leaders,
and public relations experts with the purpose of reclaiming the public idea space from extremists
by amplifying voices for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

For Immediate Release: March 1, 2006

For more information contact:
Ron Young (425) 327-7545.
Bruce Wexler (203) 710-0715

National Interreligious Leadership Initiative
for Peace in the Middle East
P.O. Box 6307 Hamden, CT 06517
(Project of A Different Future)
http://www.walktheroadtopeace.org/
national_leadership.php