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Vision Statement: Abrahamic Initiative on the Middle East (AIME)
A Project of Abrahamic Faith Leaders for a Just Peace for Israelis and
Palestinians
July 14, 2011
Purpose
The purpose of the Abrahamic Initiative on the Middle East (AIME) is to
amplify a strong, local interfaith voice among spiritual leaders, as
well as their fellow believers, against the injustices and human
suffering of the people in Israel and Palestine. While many interfaith
groups focus on either theology and fellowship or political advocacy,
AIME addresses all three.
Common Belief
As children of Abraham, we are called to love God and neighbor, and to
seek a just and merciful peace in this world. Judaism speaks of the one
God calling the covenant community to "tikkun olam," repairing the
world. Christianity speaks of the power of love, as embodied in Jesus,
for the healing of the world. Islam speaks of submission to Allah in
order to establish peace, justice, and a compassionate world.
The main elements of Abrahamic ethics, as revealed in the sacred texts
of our traditions and taught by Moses, Jesus, and the Prophet Muhammad,
Peace Be Unto Them (PBUT), are: a deep conviction that human society be
founded on justice for all; an abiding concern for the most vulnerable
members of society; and a profound calling to practice compassion in
thought, word, and deed.
These core values shared by all three Abrahamic faiths compel us to act
and shape our response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Mission
Our work together is urgent. The suffering and turmoil inflicted on
both Palestinians and Israelis continues to magnify and affect our own
national security. The Obama administration’s efforts to negotiate a
lasting peace are being undermined by special interests in both national
and international circles. The use of nuclear intervention is even
voiced in our national media. Interfaith work
provides a moral framework to influence individuals, faith communities,
legislators, and other political leaders. And while more
individuals and organizations take a stand against the current policies
and practices in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, hostile attacks and
slurs mount against them stifling open and honest dialogue.
A strong, shared voice of conscience is
essential in our worship, political discussions, and subsequent actions.
To
raise the voices of the children of Abraham, AIME will seek to:
1) Unite a local group of religious leaders from the three faiths;
2) Understand and explore how our respective faith traditions compel us
to respond to the conflict in Israel and Palestine; and
3) Act collaboratively among our faith neighbors, wider community,
media, and elected officials.
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