Faith leaders call for peace as Israeli leaders visit US for talks on Iran

The ecumenical group US-based Churches for Middle East Peace writes: "Several top Israeli leaders are touring the United States in an effort to shore up government and public support for a potential military option against Iran. Unfortunately, it appears that issues related to the peace process with Palestinians are not on the agenda, at least publicly.

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with his US counterpart Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to discuss how to deal with the potential threat of Iranian nuclear weapons. The Pentagon said the defense chiefs also talked about Syria and the "ongoing changes in the Middle East." Barak said the meeting was "important and useful" and emphasized the "the close security ties between the US and Israel." Barak also met with Vice President Joe Biden and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon during his two-day Washington visit.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres is on a coast to coast public relations tour during his two-week visit to the United States. His trip includes media interviews, meetings with financial and technology leaders, and public events. On Wednesday, Barbara Walters interviewed him and they discussed Iran, but the exchange also included light-hearted moments when he discussed the ceremonial role of president and even his Facebook page. Peres said, "I want to tell you - today, under the internet, we can make peace among people, not just among governments. You can talk to each other freely…the response is unbelievable. And the nation would be delighted if you'll answer my invitation to be friends [of] peace, and of mine."

Completing the trio of high-level Israeli visits, Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit the United States next week, primarily to address the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference but he'll also meet with President Obama. The Jerusalem Post reports that his AIPAC speech will "break new ground" and offer more than just platitudes. The meeting with President Obama will likely be tense and focused on Iran. US and Israeli government officials are already working on a joint statement to present after the meeting and Israelis are pushing the US president to threaten Iran with "red lines" that would cause military actions.

Amos Yadlin, former Israeli military chief, wrote in The New York Times that Americans need to present "ironclad…assurance" that they will attack Iran before the window opportunity closes. He concludes, "I hope Mr Obama will make this clear. If he does not, Israeli leaders may well choose to act while they still can."


This week, the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land came to Washington, DC to promote the role of interfaith leaders in the peace process. The Council is a unique group that includes the highest official religious authorities in the Holy Land represent the three main Abrahamic faiths. The delegation participated in several high-level administration meetings, public panels and even took the time to sit down for lunch with CMEP.

Amid their busy schedule, the two Christian leaders on the trip, Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land and Jordan Fouad Twal and Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Munib Younan sat down with CMEP Executive Director Warren Clark to talk about their experiences in the Holy Land and what people in the United States can do.

"It is painful for us, both pastors, in the Holy Land to see a whole generation of Christians born under occupation and our conflict,"Patriarch Twal said during the interview.

Bishop Younan offered several distinct ways that US based Christians can help. He said "Education in the Middle East is the only transformative power," and urged people to support community based education and help strengthen Christian institutions in the Holy Land. Watch the full interview on CMEP's YouTube channel:
http://youtu.be/Se7RWVK93qE .

Source: CMEP