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1993
"The Three Monotheistic
Faiths." Meeting with the inter-religious delegation
to the Middle East.
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SUMMARY:
| Twenty-seven members of
various Islamic, Christian and Jewish movements in the
United States toured the Middle East and met senior
officials in Jerusalem, Amman, Damascus and Cairo. On the
8th December they met with Israeli officials from the
Foreign Office and on the 9th with Sheikh Ikrima Sabri
and Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi. Dr. Abdul Hadi emphasised that
this date was the anniversary of the intifada and that
this had been the first chapter in the Palestinian
resistance that led up to the current political
negotiations, mutual recognition and work towards
reconciliation and co-existence. Emphasis was also made
that Palestine is part of the Arab world and its Islamic
roots are very strong and that no social or political
trend should be underestimated. The importance of
dialogue as one method to bring the representatives and
opinions of the three monotheistic faiths together was
noted, and its role in increasing understanding,
acceptance and co-operation. Dr. Abdul Hadi also noted
the character of Orient House as a political address and
Palestinian intentions and needs to see it as a future
headquarters of a national authority. He encouraged
further contacts to be made through this address on all
matters and said that despite the difficulties of current
political processes there were high expectations of a
comprehensive political settlement.
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