Tango For One.

Muslim, Jewish leaders meet in Spain to discuss working toward peace

By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent, and AP

SEVILLE, Spain - Jewish and Muslim religious and political leaders are establishing an interfaith task force that will lead the struggle against the hatred of Jews and Muslims. The proposal was introduced Sunday at the opening here of the Second World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, sponsored by Hommes de Parole, a Paris based peace foundation.

The idea was formulated by the conference organizers in conjunction with Labor Party MK Rabbi Michael Melchior and Sheikh Imad al Falouji, the chief imam of Gaza.

The second international conference of Jewish and Muslim clerics drew 72 rabbis and 72 imams from 34 countries.

At Sunday's opening ceremony, at one of Seville's ancient palaces, rabbis in black hats and coats sat alongside imams in gowns and conical hats, engaging in friendly conversation.

"I want to break the convention that religion creates problems," said Hommes de Parole founder Allain Michel. "Our object is to liberate religion from its abductors." Several conference participants noted Sunday that the forthright connection between rabbis and senior Muslim leaders takes on special significance in view of Hamas' rise to power in the Palestinian Authority.

The first World Congress of Imams and Rabbis took place last year in Brussels, Belgium. The current gathering in Seville includes for the first time a large group of Palestinian clerics from Gaza and the West Bank  about 20 were present. Sheikh Falouji, who heads the group, was among the founders of Hamas but withdrew from the organization and served as a Palestinian Authority minister.

The rabbinic delegation includes former chief rabbi Yona Metzger, whose speech at the opening ceremony recalled Spain's Golden Age, when relations between Judaism and Islam blossomed.

"Here in Spain, of all places, we should conclude that Jews and Muslims must not be enemies," Metzger said. He went on to denounce those who denigrated the image of Mohammed.

According to Michel, "it is actually the clerics, perceived by many as fiery and feeding extremism, who are capable of working for tolerance and promoting peace."

"We have more common elements than elements which pull us apart," Metzger, said as a four day congress of imams and rabbis opened in Seville.

"We have to continue to prove that Jews and Muslims are not enemies," Metzger said at the inaugural ceremony of the congress, which begins in earnest Monday with workshops on issues such as educating young people in religious tolerance and encouraging faith in an increasingly secular society.

Seville was chosen to host the meeting because of its rich symbolism as one of the Spanish cities where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in harmony under Moorish rule that began in the 8th century and lasted more than 700 years.

Metzger said Judaism has fanatics, too. He noted an attack last August in which an Israel Defense Forces soldier opposed to the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip opened fire on a bus in the town of Shfaram, killing four Israeli Arabs.

Metzger said he condemned the attack immediately and visited the families of those killed to mourn with them.

Ahmad Taoufiq, the religious affairs minister of Morocco, condemned Islamic terrorism and said Muslim leaders are sometimes silent when attacks occur.

"We have to separate ourselves from trends which are dividing the world into darkness and light," he said.

Metzger also addressed the issue, saying Muslim leaders have failed to criticize Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

"Why don't you speak out when bin Laden evokes your religion to justify terrorism? Why don't you express yourselves in a loud voice?" he asked.

Christians are not included in the congress because this would alter and weaken the dynamics of a forum designed specifically for conciliation between two religions steeped in antagonism, said Michel.


Comment: This article from the leading newspaper in Israel, Ha'Aretez.

Such events are very rare and, where useful, should be encouraged. Especially useful is the large delegation from the Gaza imams. but what is it really?

This is the second such Conference. Both have been held in christian countries, could the third conference be held in Jerusalem or Riyadh? Certainly not. No imam would travel to Jerusalem (without risking his own assassination by Muslims)and no muslim imam would dare call for the reception of 72 rabbis in the Land of Islam.

So what is it really, this lovely meeting?

Sadly, it is only a photo opportunity.

The way forward in generally dealing with backward muslim clergy (called the 'thick sheiks' in Sydney) is to ignore them, not confer with them. Put all the effort into driving a wedge between the oppressed muslim people and their backward oppressors, the muslim clergy. Without this wedge the muslims in Australia, and even more so else where, will stay stuck in poverty and a spiritual desert.

It can, in certain circumstances, be good to have these sorts of photo opportunities, although nothing substantial can come from the meetings, per se. These meetings can advance the broader Western agenda of undermining the muslim psychology of victory. The sight of 72 imams representing the 900 million muslims in the world in discussions with the 72 rabbis representing the 20 million Jews in the world is clearly a victory for the Jews.

God must really have it in for the Muslims, to give them the Jews for an enemy.

All this helps the West.