Earlier today I posted the text of a statement released by "35 leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian organizations" which stated that "our nation has an inescapable responsibility and an indispensable role to provide creative, determined leadership for building a just peace for all in the Middle East."  The statement, released under the umbrella of the National Interreligious Initiative for Peace in the Middle East , specifically calls on the U.S. to, among other steps: "Explore bold initiatives for peace such as appointing a special envoy, hosting an international conference, and/or forming mutually acceptable security arrangements for a negotiated two-state solution" to the Israeli -Palestinian conflict.   

This is an important document.  Over the last couple of years there have been profound differences among U.S. religious leaders over how to achieve peace in the Middle East not only between Jews and Muslims but between Jews and mainline Christians.  For example, the United Church of Christ and others have come under fire for calling on Israel not to build a wall separating themselves from Palestinians.  But the statement released today states:

Israel should remove "illegal outposts," halt expansion of settlements, refrain from constructing the "security barrier" in areas that infringe on Palestinian land and reiterate its previous commitment that the route of the wall does not prejudge final status negotiations.

The release of this statement suggests new common ground among religious leaders in the United States and that is a welcome development.

A press release that accompanied the statement noted:

Rabbi Paul Menitoff, immediate past Executive Vice President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, commented, "The awful events in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel confirm two principles on which we all agree. There cannot be peace without negotiations, and the U.S. Administration with support of Congress has to be the one to move the parties along the path to peace."  Looking ahead, Menitoff added, "We know how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will end.  There will be two states living side-by-side in peace with mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing Jerusalem and resolving the issue of refugees. The only question is how many more Israelis and Palestinians will die before this vision is realized."  Rabbi Amy Small of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association noted, "Our religious teachings command us to get beyond blaming one another and instead admonish us to work together for justice and peace for all God's children."

A commonly voiced assumption among many is that none of the religious traditions truly hope for peace and the sad truth is that many have exploited faith for both violent and political ends - Christians, Jews and Muslims alike.  The signers of this statement, however, are calling for renewed involvement among U.S. religious leaders to press for peace on theological grounds:

Our faith traditions hold that every human being is created in the image of God, that human life and dignity are to be respected, and that all persons are children of the One God. This common religious heritage - which we trace to Abraham - finds expression in a common commitment to peace with justice for all God's children.

The prophet Isaiah links peace with justice. Of those who do not know peace, the prophet warns: "The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace" (Isaiah 59:8). As religious leaders we must heed the call to walk the road of justice to peace and call on others, especially our nation's leaders, to do the same.

Violence, especially against civilians, violates the dignity of the human person and is incompatible with the peace God desires for each of God's children. Our traditions share the belief that each of us is called to pursue peace. Jesus of Nazareth expressed this call in these words: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

Building peace through justice is simultaneously an urgent human challenge and a gift of God. As the Holy Koran articulates it, God is the "Source of Peace, Guardian of Faith, Preserver of Safety" (59.23). It is God who calls us to walk the just road to peace with all peoples and who makes that path possible, even when, as today, the way forward may seem unclear.

The signers of the letter have requested a meeting with the Secretary of State to press their case.  You can expect already that leaders in the Religious Right - a group that has campaigned against nearly every peace measure over the last 30 years - are counseling the president to stay the course.  If he does the consequences will be disastrous.  Pray for peace.