Welcome

On December 2, 2003, in a widely reported national press conference, thirty-three of the nation's most prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders announced a new, unprecedented collaborative effort to mobilize broad public support for active, fair and firm U.S. leadership in pursuit of Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace. The Initiaitve was founded on Principles of Cooperation and initially advocated Twelve Steps for Peace. Several members of Congress joined in a bipartisan letter welcoming formation of this Interreligious Initiative.

Since its creation, the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East has communicated several times with President Bush, former Secretary Colin Powell, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and with members of Congress to call for more active, determined U.S. leadership for peace. These appeals urge the Administration to make Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace a top priority of U.S. policy. Simultaneously, these appeals have been endorsed by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in cities across the country engaged in local interreligious cooperation modeled on the national initiative. Local religious leaders have pressed their Senators and Representatives to support the Initiative's message.

In his New York Times religion column (12/6/03), Mideast Initiative Pushes Beyond Platitudes, Peter Steinfels wrote that what makes the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative different is 'who these religious leaders are, what they said, and what they plan to do.'

In December 2006, in the wake of a particularly turbulent year for Israelis and Palestinians the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative issued the statement, Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope. This statement represented a remarkable consensus, especially considering the tragic events of the past year, and again called upon the United States to make peace a priority in the Middle East. The statement, endorsed by 37 Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders including heads of 25 national organizations, was sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requesting a meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The statement was also sent to every member of Congress.

On January 29, 2007 leaders from the Initiative met with Secretary Rice to express their concerns and to offer their support for strong U.S. leadership for peace. In the period since their meeting with Secretary of State Rice, NILI leaders have met regularly with Under Secretary for Political and Public Affairs R. Nicholas Burns focusing their concerns on preparations for the Annapolis peace conference. NILI issued specific concerns for follow-up steps to the Annapolis Conference.

Who Are the Religious Leaders?

Christian leaders include two Roman Catholic Cardinals, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Primates of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches, heads of the Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Methodist, United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Protestant denominations, the President of the National Council of Churches, three prominent Christian evangelical leaders, and editors of two influential national Christian publications.

Jewish leaders include the President and Past President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the President of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Executive Vice President of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Rector of American Jewish University, formerly the University of Judaism, the President and Past President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the Executive Vice President of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, and the Vice President of A Different Future.

Muslims leaders include leaders of the largest national Muslim organizations - the National Director and Vice President of the Islamic Society of North America, the General Secretary of the Islamic Circle of North America, the President Emeritus of the Council of Mosques, the Muslim Chaplain of Georgetown University, and leaders of United Muslims of America and the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

What They Are Saying - "Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope"

In their December 2003 consensus statement, Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope, the religious leaders call for the United States to make peace in the Middle East an urgent priority. The statement makes specific recommendations for U.S. policy, including what the United States should encourage the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the Arab states to do.

The Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders are united in working together for peace with justice for Israelis, Palestinians and all peoples in the Middle East. The leaders believe that America has an inescapable responsibility and an indispensable role to provide creative, determined leadership for building a just peace for all in the Middle East. They believe that achieving Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace will have positive reverberations in the region and around the world. Encouraged by the U.S. decision to host a conference for peace in the Fall of 2007, leaders in the Interreligious Initiative offered several recommendations they believe would help assure success of the Annapolis conference.

The path to peace requires a rejection of violence and an embrace of dialogue and negotiations. This path demands reciprocal steps that build confidence on all sides. Such a path can lead to a future of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace with security and dignity for both peoples and to a future of stability in the region with Israel living in peace and security with its Arab neighbors.