The following 4 news stories are from different news agencies, covering the inter-faith meeting that is taking place on July 16th in Madrid, Spain.
#1 “Saudi Arabia to Host Major Interfaith Conference”
By Joshua Goldberg
Christian Post
Christians, Jews and Muslims will gather in Madrid later this month for [what] could be one of the highest profile interfaith meetings in recorded history.
The three-day conference, hosted by Saudi Arabia, aims to highlight the attendees’ shared heritage as children of Abraham and lists many prominent leaders and figures of faith including evangelist Franklin Graham, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and former Vice President Al Gore.
Also among the 200 prominent religious leaders will be major Jewish leaders including Rabbi David Rosen, the former chief rabbi of Ireland and head of the interfaith committee of the American Jewish Committee.
Although Israel and Saudi Arabia do not currently have formal diplomatic ties, Rosen said that he believes the conference will do much to promote peace and understanding.
“I think that will be a great achievement,” he told The Associated Press.Click here to read this entire article.
#2 “All preparations in place for interfaith conference”
Badea Abu Al-Naja
Arab News
MADRID: The Muslim World League (MWL) has completed all preparations for the international interfaith conference that begins here on Wednesday, the pan-Islamic body said in a statement. More than 200 leaders of different religions, including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, are expected to attend the three-day conference.Click here to read more.
#3 “Saudi king set to lead rare interfaith talks in Spain”
By Caryle Murphy
The Christian Science Monitor
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – In a first for a Saudi Arabian leader, King Abdullah will convene a conference in Madrid as part of a Saudi outreach to defuse interfaith tensions, improve Islam’s image, and restore respect for religious values.
King Abdullah’s initiative – a three-day meeting starting July 16 that will include Muslim, Christian, and Jewish clerics, as well as representatives of Eastern religions – stands out among interfaith gatherings that have become commonplace in the post-9/11 world. . . . The 200 invitees included vocal critics of Islam, notably the Rev. Franklin Graham, a conservative Evangelical who has called Islam an “evil and wicked” religion. He cannot attend because he is preparing for a trip to North Korea, a Graham spokesman said.Click here to read more.
#4 “Saudis invite Israeli to Madrid parley”
The Jerusalem Post
By MATTHEW WAGNER AND AP
Saudi Arabia invited an Israeli rabbi on Thursday to attend an interfaith conference to be held in Madrid.
Rabbi David Rosen, president of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, is the only rabbi who lives in Israel who was invited by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the World Muslim League to the conference that is slated for July 16 to 18. . . . Several months ago, Abdullah announced that he planned to hold a major interfaith summit in Saudia Arabia. The Madrid conference is a precursor to that much larger initiative. Click here to read more.
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