Religions for Peace

14 March 2011

Religions for Peace unequivocally rejects the despicable killing of five Jewish settlers—including a mother and father and their 4 month old infant and their 4 and 11 year old children—in Itamar (southeast of the West Bank city of Nablus) on Friday 11 March.    

There is no moral or religious justification for stabbing a family at sleep.  It is an act that utterly offends the moral sensibilities of all people of conscience. 

Religions for Peace joins with believers of all faiths in rejecting this heinous act of violence. 

However difficult and painful, the genuine path to peace in the Holy Land is the advancement of a negotiated peace settlement.  It must be a settlement that honors the full political and religious rights of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. 

Concretely—national borders, locations of related capitals, the rights of refugees and other realities that are disputed among Israelis and Palestinians should be settled by negotiations.  So, too, should be the many issues associated with the Holy Sites in and around Jerusalem.    

Both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities should resist over responding to extremist acts and concentrate on making the genuine, principled sacrifices necessary to advance a just peace. 

Religions for Peace remains in solidarity with the religious leaders in Israel and Palestine in their efforts to advance a just peace and reject the misuse of religion.  

Yours in partnership, 

Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General