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CWS co-sponsors ecumenical consultation on international law and the Arab-Israeli conflict
24 Mar 2009 15:46:00 GMT
 Source: Church World Service-USA
Website: Website: http://www.churchworldservice.org

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Ramzi Zananiri, Executive Director of the International Christian Committee-Jerusalem, speaks to participants after his presentation at Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 13-16, 2009.
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Ramzi Zananiri, Executive Director of the International Christian Committee-Jerusalem, speaks to participants after his presentation at Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 13-16, 2009.
Photo: Tsehai Dirar/CWS

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MARCH 23, 2009--CWS is co-sponsoring an ecumenical consultation, "International Law and the Arab-Israeli Conflict," to be held in Washington, D.C., on March 31. More than 40 ecumenical and denominational staff will come together to hear expert analysis and discuss together how best to advocate for fresh initiatives by the U.S. government, in order to move beyond the present impasse and achieve a peace with justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.

CWS is co-sponsoring an ecumenical consultation, "International Law and the Arab-Israeli Conflict," to be held in Washington, D.C., on March 31. More than 40 ecumenical and denominational staff will come together to hear expert analysis and discuss together how best to advocate for fresh initiatives by the U.S. government, in order to move beyond the present impasse and achieve a peace with justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.

CWS is committed to working toward peace and well-being for neighbors in the Middle East, with our advocacy work, peacebuilding initiatives, sustainable economic development, and refugee assistance programs. CWS advocacy positions and strategies are developed in conjunction with our partners in faith-based and community-based organizations in the Middle East. For example, Ramzi Zananiri, executive director of the International Christian Committee-Jerusalem, discussed Palestinian issues at Ecumenical Advocacy Days, Mar. 13-16, 2009.

CWS and an ecumenical group have produced a statement entitled A Policy Agenda for the New Administration. Endorsed by Church World Service, the National Council of Churches and nine of our member denominations, agencies or public policy offices, this statement summarizes key U.S. foreign policies that we urge the new President and Congress to implement.

President Obama has pledged to make Israeli-Palestinian peace a priority for his Administration and to take new initiatives to help bring about a just and lasting peace with security for both peoples. Conference organizers believe that greater respect for the relevance of international law can enhance the ability of the U.S. to contribute to a successful resolution of the conflict.

Church and ecumenical staff attending the consultation will discuss what strategies the church community can utilize to influence U.S. policymakers to take international law more into account in their efforts.

The consultation is sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) along with co-sponsors Church World Service, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, Mennonite Central Committee and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Attending for CWS will be Rajyashri Waghray, Director of Education & Advocacy, David Weaver, chair of the CWS Middle East team, and Martin Shupack of the CWS Washington Office.

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, 212-870-2676 lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 24/7, 781-925-1526 jdragin@gis.net


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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