http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/world-jews-must-play-role-in-future-mideast-peace-talks-1.320487
Published 21:52 21.10.10
Latest update 21:52 21.10.10
'World Jews must play role in future Mideast peace talks'
U.S. Jewish leaders mark a radical departure from the Jewish Diaspora's
traditional custom of deferring all such decisions to Israeli government.
By The Associated Press
International Jewish leaders are demanding a role in determining the fate of
Jerusalem and other key issues in Mideast peace talks.
Over 120 leaders of Jewish organizations from around the world and important
Jewish figures met in Jerusalem for a two-day conference for a meeting
organized by the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute to deliberate the
impact of the peace process and possible concessions to be expected.
U.S. and European Jewish leaders said Jerusalem belongs to all Jews, and they
must play a role in its future.
The comments Thursday at a conference in Jerusalem marked a radical departure
from the Jewish Diaspora's traditional custom of deferring all such decisions
to the Israeli government.
Palestinians demand control of east Jerusalem, including its key holy sites, as
the capital of their future state. Many world Jewish groups publicly oppose
such a concession.
Some 120 leaders from the largest world Jewish organizations attended the
annual meeting.
Participants in the conference were former presidential adviser Elliott Abrams;
Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents of the Major American Jewish
Organizations; former U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer; the head of the
Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman; the senior vice president of Bna'i
B'rith International, Daniel Mariaschin; Pierre Besnainou, a leading figure of
the Jewish community in France; and others.
Meanwhile, JCall, a group of Jewish-American leaders on Friday launched an
online petition urging an end to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem and calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. Called "For the Sake of Zion," the petition is signed by dozens of
prominent American rabbis, judges, writers, academics and philanthropists.
"Encouraged by the recent European 'Call For Reason,' signed by more than 5,200
Jewish citizens of European countries, we, American Jews passionately devoted
to the safety and welfare of the State of Israel, now add our voices to those
of our European kinsfolk," the group's petition reads.
"They recognize, as do we, that Israel faces existential threats, both from
without and from within. We do not take these lightly, but we reject the view
that they are Israel's inevitable destiny."
The signatories, some of which have lived in Israel, go on to say that the
Jewish people are entitled to live in a sovereign state.
The petition calls for both sides to advance toward a two-state solution, which
they say requires concession and commitments from both sides.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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