Israel-Palestine peace still possible, U.S. religious leaders say

Published: 2006-03-01

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Clergy representing different branches of Christianity, Judaism and Islam at a Feb. 28 press conference reiterated a message they have delivered before: They believe peace can be achieved between Israel and Palestine, even now with the victory of the militant Islamic group Hamas in January's Palestinian parliamentary elections. In a Feb. 13 letter to President George W. Bush, the clergy, who are members of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East, urged Bush to "let Palestinians and Israelis know now that, following the formation of their new governments, you and your administration will work with determination and urgency to achieve peace." Following the press conference at the National Press Club, some members of the clergy group, including Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, met with Karen Hughes, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, to press their case. Cardinal McCarrick told Catholic News Service the next day that the interfaith group "made our point" in a brief, cordial meeting with Hughes. "We asked them to stay with the 'road map,'" he said. "Now is not the time to let go."

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .