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Women Of Three Faiths Share One Vision For The Holy Land: “If You Want Peace, Seek Justice”
30-Oct-03
Contact: Robert Younes, M.D.
(301) 983 3022, 301-951-9400
younes@hcef.org
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
News Release
WOMEN OF THREE FAITHS SHARE ONE VISION FOR THE HOLY LAND:
"IF YOU WANT PEACE, SEEK JUSTICE"
Washington, DC -- October 29, 2003. The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation's 5th Annual Conference, "Holy Land Christians: A Living Bridge to Peace" held at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington DC, was highlighted on October 25 by a panel entitled "Three Women, Three Faiths, One Shared Vision." The panel was comprised of three women from the Holy Land: Jewish, Muslim, and Christian. Each woman provided a riveting eyewitness account of the stark realities of daily life in the Holy Land. Each panelist shared her personal vision of how peace may be achieved through a commitment to the fundamental principles of justice and human rights.
The panel was organized by the Washington, DC-based NGO "Partners for Peace" as part of their 6th annual "Jerusalem Women Speak" tour in the United States to promote a just peace between Israel and Palestine. The three speakers on the tour are: Yehudit Keshet, the Jewish Israeli co-founder of "Checkpoint Watch"; Rawan Damen, a Muslim Palestinian; and Mai J. Nassar, a Christian Palestinian teacher from Bethlehem.
The speakers noted that women have always played an important role in the peacemaking process between Palestinians and Israelis. They believe that a just peace could be more readily reached if more women from both sides were involved in the peace negotiations.
Upon the request of HCEF conference attendees who wish to convey the full truth about life in Palestine and Israel to their hometown parishes across the United States, the women issued the following statement of principles:
"We believe peace is possible on the basis of the following principles:
* In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, end the occupation of Palestinian territory, which consists of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem;
* Evacuate all Israeli settlements in the occupied territories;
* Cease the construction of the separation barrier running inside the West Bank, and simultaneously, end the expropriation of Palestinian land;
* Recognize the rights of Palestinian refugees;
* Grant amnesty to security prisoners;
* Both sides in the conflict must commit to an immediate cessation of the vicious cycle of mutual violence."
All three women believe that seeking peace through justice is the only way to a secure Israel and a free Palestine.
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The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, committed to improving the lives of Christians I the Holy Land through building bonds of solidarity between Christians in the United States and Christians in the Holy Land. We have two goals: Inform Americans about the Christians in the Holy Land and provide assistance for the needy in the land where Jesus Christ was born, preached, died and rose again.
HCEF, 6935 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 214, Bethesda, MD 20815; Phone (301) 951-9400, Toll Free 866-871-HCEF; Fax (301) 951-9402; www.hcef.org; e-mail: news@hcef.org
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