Fair Witness Encourages Immediate Resumption of Peace Talks Between Israelis and Palestinians and Questions America Magazine For Not Doing The Same

NEW YORK, March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Events over the past two weeks have made prospects for an end to the decades old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians seem remote.

"It seems self-evident that the only way for peace talks to get back on track is for the parties to actually sit down and talk," says Rev. Msgr. Dennis L. Mikulanis, Vicar for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, California.  "Anything that stands as an obstacle to direct talks is just not terribly useful here."

"Both Israelis and Palestinians have grievances against one another that each can cite as a reason for refusing to negotiate," laments Fr. James Loughran, S.A., Director, Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute.  "The Palestinians can point to Israel's plan to build housing in Ramat Shlomo.  Israel can point to a town square in Palestine recently named for a terrorist who killed 38 Israeli civilians.  The list goes on.  By definition people in conflict have grievances, each against the other.  Peacemakers however, should not encourage parties in conflict to use their mutual grievances as reasons not to negotiate terms of a peaceful resolution.  Rather, they should defuse tension and encourage direct peace talks without pre-conditions on either side."

Therefore, Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East questions America Magazine's approach to the current crisis in "U.S.-Israel Relations Hit Low; Peace Process Derailed Again." (Signs Of The Times, March 29, 2010).  

"America seems almost gleeful reporting the current stalemate and blaming only Israel for the derailment of the peace process," remarks Rev. Dr. Bruce Chilton, the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College, NY. "America ignores previous substantial offers for a Palestinian state including Arab East Jerusalem by President Clinton in December, 2000 and by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in September, 2008.  The Palestinian leadership walked away from both offers without making any counteroffer.  This is what derails the peace process.  If seizing opportunities to level criticism at Israel is more important to America than encouraging the parties to go back to the negotiating table, this must be challenged by the religious community."

SOURCE Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East