Interreligious Delegation Outline Road Map Priorities
Episcopal News Service. June 7, 2004 [060704-2]
Maureen Shea, , Director of the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations
A delegation of prominent national Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders met June 1 with Secretary of State Colin Powell to urge immediate U.S. action to pursue the Road Map to Peace in the Middle East http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2003/20062.htm. Bishop Thomas Ely of Vermont represented Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold.
In their appeal to Powell, the leaders expressed a united view that high level U.S. leadership on behalf of the Road Map must restart now and would have the support of majorities in their communities. They noted that there is strong support for their position not only among Arab, Muslim, and Jewish Americans but evangelical Christians as well. The delegation, members of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East, are united in their support of a two-state solution with a viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state alongside the internationally recognized Jewish state of Israel, with enduring peace and security for both peoples.
The leaders urged the administration to act now and create the opportunity for an envoy, appointed by the President, to negotiate an immediate ceasefire and specific, reciprocal steps to be taken by both sides, as called for in the Road Map. They pointed to the work of former Senator John Danforth of Missouri and the key role he played in the peace accord recently signed for Sudan. Danforth is an Episcopal priest.
Powell, also an Episcopalian, responded by saying that the United States is fully engaged in the Middle East and reviewed the steps the administration has taken to support the Road Map. He agreed that a presidentially appointed envoy could be very effective, but said they "didn't want to waste a bullet" until the timing was right. Powell reiterated his position that new steps can only begin after the Palestinians act against terror.
At a press conference following the meeting, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington expressed the delegation's thanks for the meeting with Powell, but noted the difference in opinion regarding the time for action. Ely drew on his recent trip to Palestine and Israel, noting that "at every point along the way, people expressed their deep hope that the United States would take an active role now to bring people together." Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, stated that there was "tension" in the meeting as the religious leaders advocated immediate action. Rabbi Paul Menitoff asked that in order to end the cycle of violence, the United States should invest in economic aid for the Palestinians, with appropriate monitoring, to rebuild their infrastructure and economy, as well as schools. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf emphasized that the United States needs to act now in order to repair US/Arab relations and reduce the threat of terrorism.
Griswold joined 32 prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in a letter to President Bush in December of 2003 calling on the Administration to make Middle East peace the highest priority and urging support for "Twelve Urgent Steps for Peace." On June 1, the religious leaders recommitted themselves to working nationally and internationally, as well as at the grassroots level, to support immediate, active high level U.S. reengagement for peace. They are urging that inter-religious leadership groups be established at the local level to support the twelve steps and take action. More information on the initiative is available at www.walktheroadtopeace.org.