Middle East Online 05 Luglio 2008

200 Jewish, Christian, Muslim leaders invited attend interfaith conference in Spain to confront common challenges
 
TEL AVIV - Saudi Arabia has invited an Israeli rabbi to an interfaith conference in Spain, potentially the first step in wider contacts between the kingdom and Israel, the rabbi said on Thursday.

Rabbi David Rosen said Saudi Arabia called the conference, set for Madrid from July 16-18, to bring world religions together to confront common challenges. Rosen called the invitation "a historic step."

No comment was available Thursday from the Saudi embassy in Madrid.

Israel and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations. Saudi Arabia has traditionally shunned any public contact with Israel or its representatives, as it would cause public outrage given Israel’s long and brutal occupation of the Palestinian territories and other policies.

About 200 people have been invited, including Islamic notables from Arab countries, as well as Jewish and Christian leaders. Among them are Franklin Graham, son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, and former Vice President Al Gore.

Rosen said he received an invitation from the World Muslim League, sponsored by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

Rosen, former chief rabbi of Ireland who serves as head of interfaith relations for the American Jewish Committee, is not identified as an Israeli on the conference list; rather, as an American Jewish Committee official.

He said the invitation stemmed from the Saudi recognition that "the world needs to see Muslim initiatives for cooperation and for constructive engagement."

At a meeting last month, Abdullah told 500 delegates from around 50 Muslim nations that Muslims must do away with the dangers of extremism which has nothing to do with Islam's "good message" to the world.

Rosen is a veteran of efforts to bring religious leaders together for talks. He was prominent in negotiations in the 1990s that resulted in Israel and the Vatican establishing diplomatic relations.

Rosen said the conference could be "the beginning of a process that is in our interest, not just in their interest, in the interest of Israel."

Others on the list are Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Pope Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Church.

Those from Arab nations are largely establishment figures from government-condoned institutions, including several prominent clerics representing Saudi Arabia. Several Shiites were also invited.

It was not immediately known who among those invited had agreed to attend.

Source >  Middle East Online

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