Guidelines for Supporting the National Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East

The following guidelines are offered for speaking in support of the statements of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative with members of Congress and/or representatives of the media.

STAY ON MESSAGE

Keep focused on the unprecedented interreligious composition and timeliness of this initiative and on the main points of the statement, "Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope" and current NILI advocacy positions.

Don't address issues which we have not discussed or agreed on. It's perfectly appropriate to say, "We have not discussed that and therefore I have no comment on it."

Emphasize that your local effort is part of a multi-city initiative in cooperation with heads of twenty-five national Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious organizations.

The Main Points of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative:
(See most recent NILI Advocacy Statements for guidelines re: current advocacy.)

1) To make Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace an urgent, top priority of U.S. policy. The United States has an inescapable responsibility and an indispensable role to provide creative, determined leadership for building a just peace for all in the Middle East by advancing the goal of a viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, with security and peace for both peoples.

2) 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. U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397 provide the internationally agreed framework for comprehensive and lasting Arab-Israeli-Palestinian peace. U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559 provide a framework for resolving the situation in Lebanon.

While we are not experts in diplomacy, the Initiative has made several specific suggestions for the U.S. role:

a. Negotiate a timetable for specific, simultaneous steps to be taken by the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, with effective and highly visible monitoring to assure implementation by both sides.

A timetable for simultaneous steps by both sides and an effective monitoring system are essential. The idea of insisting that all violence stop before starting negotiations gives veto power to extremists. The idea that one side must take several steps before the other side takes any doesn't work. Steps have to be reciprocal and simultaneous. Effective monitoring is essential to assure implementation and to keep up momentum in the process.

b. Take the lead to mobilize increased international economic aid to build up the Palestinian Authority's capacity to provide security, prevent violent attacks on Israelis, and deliver humanitarian aid, vital services, and development assistance to the Palestinian people. The process of increasing aid has begun but much more is needed. Substantial aid is needed to provide humanitarian relief, rebuild security forces under the central control of the Palestinian Authority, repair damaged infrastructure, and create desperately needed jobs.

c. Build upon principles and practical ideas for peace that emerged from official and nonofficial Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and disalogue over many years and are reflected in public documents, especially the Geneva Accord and People's Voice model peace agreements. These benchmarks suggest realistic compromises for final status issues, including: borders and security arrangements, settlements, refugees and Jerusalem. Building public support for these ideas can help convince people that peace is possible and help our religious communities, the media, and political leaders focus on realistic solutions for peace.

Conflict and Tensions Between Our Communities:

In response to reporters questions about tensions between our communities in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we urge that your responses reflect the foundational "Principles of Cooperation" adopted by national leaders of the Interreligious Initiative. Note especially the second principle:

"Recognizing and appreciating the deep, precious bonds many of us have with different sides of this conflict and how these bonds sometimes cause us to have different and conflicting viewpoints, we believe our areas of agreement are more important than our disagreements, and we commit ourselves to work together conscientiously and sensitively to emphasize our common agenda for peace."

While various religious leaders in any of our three communities may at some time have made contentious, partisan statements related to the conflict, including justifying or seeming to justify killing of innocents, this does not rule out or invalidate our working together now based on agreed upon Principles of Cooperation and our united support our statements. After all, many Israelis and Palestinians who now are working together for peace in the past may well have participated in fighting against each other.

Indeed, this interreligious initiative takes inspiration from the more then 500 Israeli and Palestinian families of the Parents Circle who have lost family members in the conflict and now are committed to working together for peace and reconciliation. These Israeli and Palestinian parents of kids who were killed set a high moral standard for all of us.

Specific Issues in the Conflict:

If reporters ask questions about specific issues, e.g Palestinian tensions and reform, suicide bombings, the security "fence," or "wall," settlements, etc., we advise that you stay focused on the main message and points of the statement, "Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope" and current NILI advocacy positions. The 2003 NILI statement, "Twelve Steps for Peace," also provide helpful guidance on specific issues.

Remember you are not simply responding for yourself or your organization, but for a new and still fragile interreligious Jewish/Christian/Muslim initiative. Think how a particular question or issue may be viewed by your colleagues for peace in the other two communities.

Emphasize Actions You Are Taking or Plan to Take:

• Communicating your support of the Initiative’s statements to your Senators and Representative.
• Joining with other endorsers to seek appointments with your Senators.
• Announcing the Initiative and distributing materials from the National Initiative to congregations.
• Urging members of congregations who support the Initiative to write to their Senators and Representative.
• Planning a public interreligious community event for peace.

Sample Press Release

(City)'s Jewish, Christian and Muslim Leaders Join Together to Urge the Administration and Congress to Make Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace a Top Priority

Local Religious Leaders Join Unprecedented Nationwide Interreligious Initiative for Peace

Initiative for Peace Aims to Accomplish the Vision of a Negotiated Two-State Solution and Comprehensive Arab-Israeli Peace

(DATE) Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders today publicly joined an urgent appeal to the United States government to make Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations a top priority of U.S. policy. This unique, local interreligious effort is part of an unprecedented nationwide initiative led by more than 35 eminent Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders of national organizations. Together they are working to advocate the moral and political imperative for active, determined U.S. leadership for peace in the Middle East.

The religious leaders believe that U.S. leadership is essential to renewing progress toward the goal of a viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel with peace and security for both peoples. Since its inception the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East has issued numerous appeals to the President and the Secretary of State urging strong U.S. leadership. Local religious leaders in U.S. cities throughout the country have endorsed these appeals to the Administration. In December 2006 the national leaders released a consensus statement, "Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope."

Local endorsers of this initiative, including (LIST LOCAL ENDORSERS), are communicating and encouraging their congregations to communicate with Senators ______ and _______, and with their Representatives to urge active bi-partisan support for the message of this interreligious effort.

The initiative's newest statement, "Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope," states 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. Achieving Arab- Israeli-Palestinian peace will have positive reverberations in the region and around the world.

The leaders also state that military action will not resolve the conflict. The only authentic way forward is a negotiated settlement built on difficult, but realistic, compromises and security arrangements with international guarantees. The path to peace requires a rejection of violence and an embrace of dialogue. Such a path could 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.

The Appeal also offers specific suggestions for U.S. involvement, including:

• Exercise persistent, determined leadership at the highest levels to secure a comprehensive and just resolution of the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, and 1397.
• Work, in coordination with the Quartet, to create conditions that bring about serious negotiations for a two-state solution following the lines of the Roadmap and earlier civil society initiatives;
• Support full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559 in relation to Lebanon; and
• Undertake diplomatic efforts to restart Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese negotiations for peace.

The religious leaders believe the Geneva Accord and other model peace agreements negotiated by prominent Israelis and Palestinians are very important because they help to demonstrate that peace is possible. They offer realistic, compromise solutions to even the toughest issues, including borders and security, settlements, refugees and Jerusalem.

Launched in December 2003, the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative unites some of the most prominent American religious leaders in support of active, determined U.S. leadership in pursuit of peace. The delegation members believe that both the deepest values of their religious traditions and the urgency of the situation necessitate strong, united interreligious action immediately to mobilize their communities across the country to support U.S. leadership for peace.

The religious leaders believe that "the land that was the birthplace of all three Abrahamic religions can once again become a source of hope, justice and reconciliation for the whole world. Jerusalem can be the city of peace and U.S. leadership is urgently needed to help make it happen."

Attachments:
Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope
List of National Leaders