We three, a Christian, a Jew and a Muslim, are moved to ex-press our deep concern about the Middle East peace process. The parties to the process ap-pear to be in denial of the danger-ous route they are traveling as they stray from the path of constructive engagement. They fail to see the danger of the combination of ha-tred and weapons of destruction. They seem blind to the slow death that awaits their people from environmental degradation. water shortages and poverty. The parties to the peace proc-ess are confronted by the biblical choice between life and death; they have the power to create a heaven or hell on earth. And we have a responsibility to shield the flickering flame of peace. The United States, as well as the international community, will be a2fected by the future of the Middle East. Therefore, we advocate the fol-lowing goals: acceptance of Israel by her Arab neighbors, including diplomatic recognition, trade and cultural exchange; statehood for the Palestinians; and joint regional and international efforts to ad-dress the region's problems. Let us call upon everyone to r'~cognize that there will be no p~ace (and therefore no future worth having) unless there is the will to compromise. The choice is not between com-promise and principle, but be-txveen compromise and death. J. Wayne Ruddock Robert D. Katzoff Mohyee E. Eldefrawl Baldwin
Advertisement