Interfaith Group Backs Peace Efforts

WASHINGTON â€”  An interfaith group of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders has voiced support for the Bush Administration’s effort to push for peace among the Arab nations, Israel and the Palestinian people.

“Progress on resolving this conflict requires active, sustained U.S. involvement at the highest level,� said Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, chair of the U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East.

The committee is made up of 1,400 Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders and has long been pushing the U.S. government to take a more active role in promoting peace efforts in the region, especially efforts aimed at resolving the thorny Israeli-Palestinian problem.

Cherif Sedky, vice chair of the committee, said the group welcomed Secretary of State James A. Baker III’s recent trip to the Middle East as well as plans by Bush to visit the region next month.

“The President needs and deserves positive encouragement for this effort from Congress and the public,� the interfaith group said in a statement this week.

The group supports a peace plan built on four principles: Israel’s right to secure borders and peace with its neighbors; the Palestinian people’s right of self-determination, including the right to choose their own leaders; negotiations for peace among the Arab states, Israel and legitimate representatives of the Palestinians based on U.N. Security Council resolutions, and U.S.-Soviet cooperation to develop an international framework, process and guarantees for peace.

“The challenges of building for peace in the Middle East are as great and urgent as the challenges faced in war,� said Ronald Young, executive director of the interfaith group. “We believe the religious community needs to speak out now in a strong united voice for peace.�