H.B. Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, is visiting Washington with the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land (CRIHL) from February 27 to March 2. They met with the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden at the US Institute of Peace to discuss peace in the Holy Land on Tuesday, February 28th.
“Preventing incitement and Promoting Peace” was the theme of the meeting held in Washington DC with the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land (CRIHL) on Tuesday, February 28th in the afternoon. H.B. Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and nine other Council members met with Vice President Joe Biden. Eight days after CRIHL condemned anti-Christian insults written on a Baptist church in Jerusalem.
In the presence of U.S. Vice President, four members spoke about the issue of Peace in the Holy Land: Canon Trond Bakkevig, founder of CRIHL and pastor of the church of Norway; Mahmoud Habbash, Palestinian Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs, Rabbi Yona Metzger, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, and H.B. Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Israel/Palestine and Jordan.
Palestinian Minister Mahmoud Habbash spoke of peace, especially of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as “a tough issue” requiring “open hearts and minds.” “Shalom”, “peace” is the usual greeting of the Jews, said Rabbi Metzger. He also reminded that three times a day the Jews pray for peace. “There is power in prayer” confirmed Patriarch Fouad Twal. “Our coexistence (Jews, Christians and Muslims, Ed) proves that Peace is possible,” he added. “Peace is possible if we all do what we need to do.” As to make courageous decisions requesting “sacrifice and compromise,” he concluded.
Source: www.lpj.org
