Interfaith Delegation Urges U.S. To Make Middle East Peace Top Priority

June 11, 2004

Source: The Online Baptist Standard

http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=1850

On June 11, 2004 The Online Baptist Standard posted a Religion News Service article that reported, "An interfaith delegation of Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders has urged Secretary of State Colin Powell to make the Middle East peace process an immediate priority. The 33 religious leaders, members of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East, said the United States needs to re-engage in the U.S.-backed 'road map' to peace between Israelis and Palestinians in the region. 'Our hope is that they (the administration) will take the road map and bring it back up again,' said Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. 'We believe the moment is now. We can't wait.' The road map calls for the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. Both sides have formally accepted the proposal, but Israel has added 14 reservations. The need for peace in the Middle East is urgent and cannot wait until after the November elections, the group said, citing violence that was responsible for the deaths of more than 20 Israelis and 90 Palestinians in May...The interfaith leaders said that while they differ on some points regarding the conflict, they agree the U.S. government should play a central role in the peace process."