Islamic-Christian dialogue conference denounces Israeli occupation
Participants in the Islamic-Christian dialogue conference, that kicked off in Cairo Wednesday night, stressed a unified Arab stand of followers of both religions in defending all Arab just causes, namely rejection of the Israeli occupation and having Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.
Organized by the Arab team for Islamic-Christian dialogue and the Middle East Council of Churches, the gathering underscored generalization of the inter-culture dialogue and coexistence so as to develop a society of citizenship, justice and confrontation of hazards threatening the national fabric.
Moreover, participants in an Islamic-Christian forum cautioned against interpreting the September I1 attacks on the US as a prelude to a clash of civilizations.
The gathering, co-organized by an Arab team concerned with Islamic-Christian dialogue and a Council of Middle East Churches, urged the US to reconsider its regional policies and adopt an even-handed approach in handling the Palestinian problem.
"The dialogue among cultures and civilizations is a religious duty, a cultural inevitability and a security necessity for co-existence, "Hamad bin al-Rafae, the chief of the World Islamic Forum, told the gathering.
Riad Gargour, Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches, said the dialogue is working on highlighting the unified Arab Islamic-Christian stand worldwide to champion common Arab issues and contribute to an inter-civilization dialogue.
"Muslims and Christians have a common civilization and enter wars together in defence of their homeland against invaders and colonialists and now they are conveying a message to the world at large incarnating the most sublime meanings of cooperation, condemnation of terrorism and murder of innocents," he said.
The conference was attended by Islamic thinkers Mohamed Selim Al-Aawa and Counsellor Tareq El-Bishri, spokesman for the Palestinian Orthodox Church Attalla Hanna, Abbot Morqos of the Egyptian Church and Head of the Anglican Church Nabil Samuel.