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ISRAEL: PRESIDENT PERES, “OUR ENEMIES ARE NOT THE PEOPLE OF GAZA BUT TERRORISTS”

Dettagli

Creato: 17 Novembre 2012

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“The State of Israel and the residents of the south are under attack. This morning rockets were fired at Israel, civilians were killed and babies were injured. Children in the south are living under the threat of falling rockets. They are seized by fear. There is no nation that loves peace and hates bloodshed like Israel. Our enemies are not the people of Gaza; our enemies are not the Muslim people. Our enemies are the terrorists who operate without reason and without thought”. These were the opening remarks of Shimon Peres, President of Israel, at the annual assembly of the Council of Religious Leaders in Israel - bringing together the leaders of all the religions in Israel - in the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa today. The Conference was also attended by a special delegation of 19 Imams and by leaders of the French Muslim community, who were visiting Israel to make their voice clearly heard against extremism and terrorism. According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Israel to the Holy See, President Peres stressed that “Israel’s hand is outstretched for peace but that Israel will do whatever is necessary to protect its citizens. The world is beginning to understand that we are operating with responsibility and we do not take human life lightly. I don’t know any country that would show restraint for as long as Israel did during the attacks on the south”.

President Peres also referred to the targeting of Ahmed Jabari and Hamas’ weapons by the Israeli army on Wednesday: “The IDF (Israeli Defence Force) operated with the utmost effort to avoid civilian casualties. Jabari was an arch-murderer and responsible for terror attacks and the killing of many. I salute the IDF and the security services for their accurate, surgical and strategically important operation”. The president also encouraged religious leaders to unite to oppose bloodshed and to work together for peace: “Religious leaders have an important role in stopping terror in the name of religion. We should unite in our call against terror and against bloodshed” to promote respect for the value of human life. “We must work together, to call for reason and to guarantee the lives of all our children - that is a real contribution, religious and humanitarian”. Participants in the assembly also included Rabbis Shlomo Moshe Amar and Yona Metzger; Imam Mouhammad Kiwan; Archbishop Aris Shirbenian; Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land; Greek Patriarch Theophilos III; Archbishop Elias Chacour; the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal; and Albert Lincoln, head of the Baha’i movement.

© www.agensir.it - november 16th 2012