Annapolis Peace Conference announcement said to 'bring hope' to Middle East
Episcopal News Service. November 27, 2007 [112707-01]
An announcement out of the Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland that the leaders of the Palestinian Authority and of Israel have agreed to begin immediate negotiations for a peace settlement to be reached by December 2008 "brings hope to Israelis and Palestinians alike," Maureen Shea, director of the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, said November 27.
"President Bush and Secretary of State Rice are to be commended for their efforts, and particularly for inviting Syria to this historic meeting," Shea said.
She noted, however, that "realizing the goal of two states living side by side in peace will require the continued sustained commitment of both the president and the secretary of state."
The New York Times reported that the agreement creates a framework for talks aimed at creating a democratic Palestinian state that would exist peacefully with Israel. The talks could begin within weeks. The Annapolis agreement does address the issues involved in creating and implementing such a two-state solution.
Delegations from 49 countries and international organizations are gathered for the conference at the United States Naval Academy.
As a sign of how difficult the talks will be, the Times reported, violence broke out during demonstrations in the West Bank when security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas clashed with Islamists who brand him a traitor for taking part in the Annapolis talks.
Meanwhile, in Annapolis, St. Anne's Episcopal Church is hosting events, coinciding with the conference, "designed to promote peace in the Middle East through dialogue, discussion and education," according to the congregation's website.
On the evening of November 26, the parish was the venue for a public forum on peace in the Middle East headlined by Israeli and the Palestinian peace negotiators from the Geneva Initiative. The forum, which included information booths and educational videos as well as a panel discussion, question-and-answer session, and a candlelight walk for peace, was offered in cooperation with the Annapolis Friends Meeting.
Ameinu, a Jewish organization which promotes a just peace in the Middle East, organized a rally with other Jewish groups in the St. Anne's churchyard the afternoon of November 27. That evening the Vineeta Foundation in cooperation with at least half a dozen cosponsoring organizations is holding a People's Peace Conference to run concurrently with the official peace conference.
Prior to the start of the conference, Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative (NILI) issued a call for prayers for peace. The Episcopal Church is a founding member of NILI. The six prayers written by leaders of the three Abrahamic traditions are below.
Shea represented Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori at a recent meeting with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns with a NILI delegation. The delegation was united in its support for "active, determined and consistent U.S. leadership for peace and raised specific concerns related to the conference and follow-up efforts," according to a NILI news release.
The religious leaders emphasized the importance of simultaneous steps on the ground by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that can help restore people's hopes that peace is possible, the release said. The delegation told Burns the steps should include a comprehensive ceasefire in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; the Palestinian Authority blocking illegal arms shipments and disarming militias; and the Government of Israel freezing expansion of settlements, withdrawing "illegal outposts," and easing movement for Palestinians by reducing the number of military check points.
The religious leaders are concerned that the split in Palestinian governance between the West Bank and Gaza is incompatible with a durable peace agreement. Acknowledging the sensitivity of this issue for the Bush administration and for their communities, the leaders urged U.S. support for efforts, probably by others, to encourage a unified Palestinian government capable of representing the West Bank and Gaza, and committed to recognizing Israel, rejecting violence and negotiating a two-state solution with Israel, according to the release.
The leaders also told Burns they believe an important goal of the conference should be to restart Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli negotiations for peace, the release said.
In addition to Shea, the delegation that met with Burns included Theodore Cardinal McCarrick; Rabbi David Saperstein of Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Dr. Sayyid Syeed of the Islamic Society of North America; United Methodist Church Bishop Ann Sherer, the Rev. Tigran Karpatyen representing Armenian Orthodox Church Archbishop Vicken Aykasian, Dennis Frado representing Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, and NILI staff members Dr. Stephen Colecchi and Ronald Young.
Prayers for Peace in the Middle East
Sustain together in undiminished hope, O God of hope,
those who continue to labor with undiminished determination
to build peace in the land from which, of old,
out of brokenness, violence and destruction,
nevertheless hope emerged for so many of faith. . . .
Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together
with the light of your Presence.
For in the light of your Presence
we have found a way of justice and mercy
and a vision of Peace.
We praise you O God, Giver of Peace,
who commands us to Peace. Amen
Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, Emeritus
Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, Illinois
God of mercy and compassion,
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all. Amen.
The Rev. Said Ailabouni, Senior Pastor
Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, Illinois
In the Name of God, The Everlasting Merciful, The Cherisher
Of the Worlds and Worthy of all Praise,
Our Lord: You have created us from a single (pair) of a male
And a female and made us into Nations and Tribes that we may
Know one another (not that we may despise each other) so
Help us to love each other and take the hatred and anger from our
Hearts so that People of The Book (Jews, Christians and Muslims)
In the Middle East may live in Peace and Justice. Amen
Dawud Ahmad Assad
Council of Mosques, USA, New York, New York
O God Source of Life, Creator of Peace. . .
Help Your children, anguished and confused,
To understand the futility of hatred and violence
And grant them the ability to stretch across
Political, religious and national boundaries
So they may confront horror and fear
By continuing together
In the search for justice, peace and truth. . . .
With every fiber of our being, we beg You, O God,
To help us not to fail nor falter. Amen
Rabbi H. Rolando Matalon
Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York, New York
Lord God, we turn to you in these trying hours when
conflict is a daily reality for our sisters and brothers
in Israel and Palestine. We promise you to work to our
utmost for peace and reconciliation in the region. But we
know we cannot do it alone. We very much need the strength
of your presence in our midst if we are to overcome the
obstacles before us. So our prayer at this moment is that
you add your support to our efforts, that you show yourself
as a tower of strength in those moments when the barriers
seem impassable. Together we can become beacons of hope
for just and peaceful societies in the land so very dear
to the peoples of your covenant. Amen.
The Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois
Almighty God!
After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide,
you inspired Jews, Christians and Muslims
to take the path of reconciliation in the Middle East. . . .
We ask for your forgiveness, O God,
yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies.
May Your Words touch those who still stray
in the wilderness of vengeful violence,
forgetting your command to "forgive and overlook,
till God accomplishes His Purpose;
for God hath power over all things." Amen
Abdelwahab Hechiche
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida