Sara Reef's blog

Opponents of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have failed to offer any alternative proposals. An alternative proposal would consist of a viable plan that would allow Israel to maintain its Jewish and democratic character without creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel. As far as I am aware, no solutions encompassing these parameters have been suggested. Now is the time for one-state supporters to step up and offer a new solution or for them to support current peace negotiations.

As a Jew living in the Diaspora, I am often conflicted on whether I have the “right” to speak on Israel’s behalf. Until recently, I never thought it was my place to be an Israeli spokeswoman.

Last month Intersections co-hosted more than two dozen religious leaders at the Kazakhstani Embassy in Washington, DC for the second annual Interfaith Dinner and Dialogue for U.S. Religious Leaders. Those present represented a wide range  of traditions, including Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Zoroastrians and indigenous American peoples, in addition to the three Abrahamic faiths—Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

by Sara Reef and Zeeshan Suhail

What do one billion Muslims really think? Between 2001 and 2006, Gallup, a Washington, D.C. based news organization that conducts public opinion polls, completed the largest study of Muslim populations worldwide. Their results challenged the conventional wisdom and the inevitability of a global conflict and a “clash of civilizations” as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continued. Despite widespread media coverage of global terrorism from America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, little is known about what the majority of the world's Muslims really think and feel. What do Muslims say about violence and terrorist attacks; democracy; women; and relations with the West? What are their values, goals, and religious beliefs?

Last Thursday, Intersections held the first in a series of three panel discussions in the new series, Intercultural Dialogue to ChangeTheStory. This panel, entitled From Dialogue to Action, featured four renowned presenters representing government, international non-profits and the arts.

In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Peace for “Commemoration and strengthening the ideals of peace within and among all nations and people.” The “Day of global ceasefire and non-violence” was later established on September 21st. This day focuses on promoting peace through education, public awareness and cooperation.

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On July 1-2 2009, the Government of Kazakhstan held their III Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, Kazakhstan at the Palace of Peace and Accord. This Congress brought together religious and political leaders from around the world to engage in two-days of interfaith dialogue for the purpose of inter-faith cooperation. The Congress opened with a welcoming address by Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev, which was then followed by a speech by Israeli President Shimon Peres. Despite the stated purpose of dialogue in this Congress, the Iranian delegation headed by Mehdi Mostafavi walked out during Mr. Peres’ address. The remainder of the first day of the Congress saw various other representatives give welcoming remarks and share position papers.

As I read the news, follow on Twitter, and listen on NPR, I am almost speechless on the events unfolding in Iran. I believe we will look back at these past few days, and realize we saw history changing and unfolding before our eyes. This is the largest revolution that has occurred in Iran since the fall of the Shah in 1979.

Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed two incidents of brutal hate crimes. The first was the June 1st killing of George Tiller, an abortion doctor in Wichita Kansas. The second was the killing of U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns yesterday in Washington, DC. The connection between these two incidents is that both victims were killed because of their jobs.