Episcopal Press and News

Jerusalem Meeting Signals Major Religious Breakthrough

Episcopal News Service. April 2, 1998 [98-2135K]

(ENS) At the end of their first meeting on March 23, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Israel's two chief rabbis pledged action to help save the Middle East peace process and prevent the region from plunging into more violence. One of the chief rabbis also declared that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was not a religious conflict but a nationalist one. All three leaders condemned violence carried out in the name of religion. "What we say that we condemn violence," said Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah. "And so all religious leaders should have the same words to condemn violence, whether it comes from the Palestinians or the Israelis. All of us must know that the way to make peace is through peace. Security to the Israelis. Security to the Palestinians. Respect of dignity to the Israelis and to the Palestinians. With this, violence will stop." Rabbi Eliahu Bakshi Doron said, "It is very dangerous to see [the conflict in the Middle East] as a religious problem. The most serious attacks are done in the name of God or religious faith, but we have to show that this is not acceptable."