10TH ANNIVERSARY

MIDDLE EASTPEACE INITIATIVE

UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION

Interreligious and InternationalRelations in the Middle East :Toward Peace and Stability

JERUSALEM

DECEMBER 19-22, 2013

2 Middle East Peace Initiative

Universal PeaceFederation

The Universal Peace Federation is a global network of individuals and organizations committed to dialogue, education and service. UPF programs engage leaders representing a wide range of fields and areas of interest, including government, civil society, religion, academia, the media, the arts, sports and the private sector.

Since its inaugural assembly in 2005 the UPF has seen remarkable growth and progress. UPF’s Ambassadors for Peace are engaged worldwide in a determined effort to bring civil society solutions to critical global problems.

The Universal Peace Federation affirms a model of leadership and good governance guided by the principle of “living for the sake of others”; a model that balances in a mature way, both spiritual and secular perspectives, and one that functions collaboratively with representatives of inter-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector and civil society.

Founded: By Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon on September 12, 2005 in New York City

Motto:“True Love is the Ideal and the Guiding Principle of the Universal Peace Federation”

Status:ECOSOC (UPF is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United NationsWe support and promote the work of the United Nations and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals)

Network:Ambassadors for Peace in 154 nations

3Toward Peace and Stability

Universal Peace Federation – Middle East Peace Initiative

interreligious and international relations in the Middle east:toward Peace and stability

Jerusalem • December 19-22, 2013

Thursday, december 19

AllDay Arrivals

5:00PM Registration

6:30PM Dinner

7:30PM session I: Welcome

Chair: ms. miri Kamar,Secretary General, UPF-Israel

Speakers: sheikh ali Naim birani,President, Jerusalem Forum for Interfaith and Cooperation among Religions

hon. ran cohen,former Member of the Israeli Knesset

Prof. eliezer Glaubach-Gal,President, UPF-Israel’s Jerusalem Forum for Peace and Security

Fr. Joseph saghbini,Auxiliary Patriarchal Vicar, Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarchate, Palestine

George e. stephan,Regional Internal Auditor, Middle East Council of Churches Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees

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FrIday, december 20

7:00 am Interfaith meditation

7:15AM Breakfast

8:30AM session II: Opening Plenary: Prospects for Peace in the middle eastThe Middle East remains a region plagued by conflict. Most recently, the conflict in Syria has erupted, leaving well over 100,000 dead, but nearly 5 million displaced persons. Following the Arab Spring, several nations in North Africa are experiencing serious conflicts and divisions. The stand-off between Israel and Palestine also remains unresolved. In this session, speakers will discuss prospects for regional peace from a variety of perspectives.

Chair: dr. Thomas G. Walsh,President, UPF International

Speakers: dr. Willem Frederick van eekelen, Member, Netherlands Advisory Commission on European Integration, Netherlands

dr. alexandre y. mansourov,President, Great Falls Solutions International LLC, USA

hon. bob mcewen, Former Member, US House of Representatives

rabbi michael melchior,Former Minister for Social Affairs and Diaspora, Israel

mr. aamir Javed sheikh, President, Foundation Dialogue for Peace, Norway

dr. chang shik yang,Chairman, UPF International

10:30AM Break

11:00AM session III: resolving the crisis in syria: Toward Geneva IIUPF convened an important consultation on the crisis in Syria in Amman, Jordan, in October 2013, and produced the “Amman Interfaith Statement” encouraging faith leaders to raise their voices in unison in calling for a resolution of the crisis. The speakers in this session will build on the work accomplished in Jordan earlier this year and offer their thoughts on Geneva II and the way to resolve the crisis in Syria.

Chair: mr. Taj hamad,Secretary General, UPF International

Speakers: mr. emmanuel dupuy,President, Institute for Prospective and Security Studies in Europe, France

dr. Leo Gabriel, President,Institute for Intercultural Research and Cooperation, Austria

dr. mordechai Kedar, Department of Arabic Literature, Bar Ilan University, Israel

ms. Patricia raynaud Lalonde,Research Fellow, Institute for Prospective and Security Studies in Europe

5Toward Peace and Stability

hon. anne-marie Vanderspeeten Lizin, Honorary Speaker, Senate of the Kingdom of Belgium

rev. dr. William a. mccomish,President, Geneva Spiritual Appeal, Switzerland; Dean Emeritus, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Geneva

12:30PM Lunch

2:00PM session IV: The crisis in the middle east and the broader Geo-Political contextInterfaith dialogue and cooperation are essential prerequisites for peace. At the same time, faith leaders need to be well informed about geopolitical realities. The “soft power” approaches of religion and civil society should be grounded in a realistic understanding of the “hard power” realities, such as political, economic, demographic and historical realities. In this way, “soft power” advocates can make informed decisions and proposals.

Chair: mr. Thomas mcdevitt,Chairman, The Washington Times LLC, USA

Speakers: dr. Julian deuel droogan,Director, Macquarie University International Security Studies Program, Australia

dr. deng-Ker Lee,Professor of Diplomacy, National Chengchi University College of International Affairs, Taiwan

Fr. eliseo mercado, lead convener, National Peace Council,Philippines

dr. eldad Joseph Pardo,Lecturer and Research Fellow, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Prof. Quan yi Zhang,Assistant Professor of Political Science, Zhejiang Wanli University International Politics Department, People’s Republic of China

4:00PM Shabbatwelcome/freetime

6:00PM Dinner

7:30PM OptionalProgram

6 Middle East Peace Initiative

saTurday, december 21

7:00 am Interfaith meditation

7:15AM Breakfast

8:30AM session V: The stalemate in Israel and Palestine: The search for solutions through Interfaith cooperationWhile the roots of the conflict in the land of Israel and Palestine are complex and labyrinthine, one can only wonder what might be possible if relations among Jews, Christians and Muslims were vastly improved. Speakers in this session will address this theme and offer their wisdom on the relevance of interfaith cooperation for peace in Israel and Palestine.

Chair: dr. Nurit hirschfeld,Director, UPF-Israel’s Jerusalem Forum for Interfaith and Cooperation among Religions

Speakers: rabbi Joseph abittan,Director, Monotheistic Religions Council for the South of France

dr. michael W. Jenkins,Chairman, MCNY Group, USA

rev. hjortur magni Johannsson,Head Minister, Free Lutheran Church, Iceland

rabbi reuven Khaskin, Israel,Educator and Tour Guide, Israel

ms. eliya Fruma Kranz,Executive Director, Silver Spring Jewish Center, USA

shaikh shafayat mohamed,Principal, Darul Uloom Islamic Institute, USA

Pastor Philip mousa sahawneh,Pastor, Baptist Convention of Jordan

10:30AM Break

11:30AM session VI: Prospects for Peace in the middle east: International PerspectivesA number of the participants in our interfaith conference have come from many corners of the world, bringing a wide range of experience and wisdom. Presenters will reflect on the critical issues of Israel, Palestine and the wider region, offering their insights and recommendations for peace and stability.

Chair: mrs. adi sasaki, director,UPF-Israel’s Jerusalem Office for Peace and Security

Speakers: mr. emmanuel chouraqui,Filmmaker, Beamlight, France

hon. Nadia hilou,Former Knesset Member, Israel

mr. michael Leonard mcIntyre,President, Capital Region Interfaith Council, Canada

mr. hafid Ouardiri, President, Fondation pour l’Entre-connaissance-Genève, Switzerland

12:30PM Lunch

7Toward Peace and Stability

2:00PM session VII: Prospects for Peace in the middle east: International PerspectivesA number of the participants in our interfaith conference have come from many corners of the world, bringing a wide range of experience and wisdom. Presenters will reflect on the critical issues of Israel, Palestine and the wider region, offering their insights and recommendations for peace and stability.

Chair: mr. heiner handschin,President, UPF-Switzerland

Speakers: Prof. rafig y. aliyev, founder, IRSHAD Center of Islamic Studies, Azerbaijan

Prof. dr. adrian holderegger,Dean Emeritus, University of Fribourg Department of Moral Theology and Ethics, Switzerland

dr. Tsutomu mizota, Professor Emeritus, Nagasaki National University, Japan

dr. Nodar sarjveladze,Chair, Foundation for the Development of Human Resources, Georgia

dr. young Tack yang,Regional Chair, UPF-Middle East

4:00PM Break

4:30PM session VIII: reflections, resolution and Wrap-up

7:45PM closing banquet Program: uPF’s middle east Peace Initiative 10th anniversary: building a roadmap for Peace

suNday, december 22

7:00AM BreakfastandDepartures

8:00AM Visit to the Old city of Jerusalem: Western Wall, al aqsa mosque, Peace Walk

Optional Program

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