Some Interfaith Dialogue

The Saudi King decided to sponsor an interfaith dialogue, but had to choose Spain for the forum instead of Saudi Arabia since the Saudis greatly discourage non Muslims from setting foot in the country, and ban non Muslims from entering Mecca.

Now comes word that the United Arab Emirates has an issue with Jews.

But after a day's worth of speeches by Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu leaders, in the middle of the fourth two-hour conference session, a government official from the United Arab Emirates urged Muslim leaders to avoid the company of Zionists.

"We have to distinguish between Judaism and Zionism," the official, Izzeddin Mustafa Ibrahim, who is listed on the program as an adviser on cultural affairs to the president of the U.A.E., said. "Zionism is a political system. Judaism is a religion."

He continued: "I can speak to pacifists but not bellicists, who are in favor of war."

Mr. Ibrahim, a Muslim scholar of Christianity who said he has met with three popes in the interests of Christian-Muslim relations, then continued: "I have only one minute left," referring to the amount of speaking time allotted to him, and finished off his statements with a broad appeal to begin a "Judaic and Islamic dialogue."

"I believe it has to start," Mr. Ibrahim said, referring to such a dialogue.

A New York rabbi, Marc Schneier, then took the lectern but did not directly respond to Mr. Ibrahim's statements about Zionism. He spoke of outreach efforts in North America between imams and rabbis.

In an interview outside the conference room, however, another New York rabbi denounced Mr. Ibrahim's remarks "as the same old rhetoric that has led to more hatred and the building of a wall between the Jews and the Muslims for the last 60 years."

Let's remind the UAE that Israel came into existence after the Arabs (Muslims) rejected any accommodation of a two-state solution and have spent the subsequent 60 years seeking nothing less than the destruction of Israel.

Jews are restricted from going near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to pray because the Israeli authorities have deemed it insensitive and could lead to riots from the al Aqsa mosque (which coincidentally appears to have been a meeting place for men plotting to kill President Bush when he paid a visit to Israel). Jews are prohibited from visiting Rachel's Tomb for similar concerns, and are restricted from going to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron for the same reason. Israel bends over backwards to accommodate Muslim concerns, while limiting Jewish parishioners from going to these sacred locations.

It's also curious how the UAE tries to distinguish between Judaism and Zionism, when Islam is both a political and a religious movement. The Islamists repeatedly seek to impose Islamic law on all those who are under its dominion - as per Saudi law and the law in many parts of the world where Muslims make up a majority (Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, etc.).