A view of modern Jerusalem from the Dan Hotel, where the conference took place.

INTERFAITH, THE UNITED NATIONS AND PEACE IN THE 21ST CENTURY The Middle East Peace Conference and the

Jerusalem Rally for the Proclamations of the Substantial Word

Since 2003, there have been over 40 Middle East Peace Initiative programs held throughout the region, but this

was the first in almost two years.

Dr. Shuki Ben Ami and the welcoming panel at the Opening Plenary

The women in the audience respond warmly to the message of peace.

A welcome from former Knesset (Parliament) member the Hon. Ran Cohen

Dr. Masatoshi Abe comments on the hopeful signs for peace, listened to by Dr. Thomas Walsh, UPF President (center), and Dr. Eliezer Glaubach of the Professors World Peace Academy,

Israel.

The conference also considered the prospects for an interreligious council at the United Nations, another major initiative of the Universal Peace Federation.

The conference always includes time to visit the key sites of a region steeped in the traditions of four faiths. Here, on a peace march at Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate.

Touring the narrow streets of the Old City, shared by Muslims, Christians, and Jews

On the steps of the Dome of the Rock Mosque, traditional site of Abraham’s offering of his son. The temple mount is holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims, but remains a source of tension.

A moment of prayer inside the Dome of the Rock

The MEPI group poses in front of the Western Wall

Paying respects to the scrolls of the Torah

In the terrace garden of Mrs. Hala Bukhari (left), whose late husband Sheikh Bukhari was a leading

supporter of UPF in Israel for many years

Mrs. Hala Bukhari welcomes visitors to her historic home on the Via Dolorosa for a personal visit.

A visit to Manger Square in Bethlehem

Back in the hotel, Mr. Hod Ben Zvi, MEPI program coordinator, introduces

Dr. Hyung Jin Moon to give his keynote address.

Imam Dr. Hashim Jansen from the Netherlands offers a prayer for peace among all religions.

Dr. Hyung Jin Moon, International Chairman of UPF, addresses the MEPI.

The conference participants came from 18 nations and many faiths.

After the speech, a time to catch up with old friends and make new acquaintances.

Left to right: Mrs. Shosh Ben Ami, Rabbi Shimshon Nir, Sheik Ali Birani, Dr. Shuki Ben Ami

UPF-Israel Secretary General Jeremy Jordan and some young volunteers

A visit to the El Gazar Mosque at Acre (Acco), the ancient Phoenician city and former Crusader base on the Bay of Haifa

Imam Assi welcomes UPF and explains about the current

prospects for peace.

The imam welcomed all to share the Iftar evening meal, which marks the breaking of the Ramadan fast each day at

sunset.

Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1947, throwing new light on the Essenes, a mystical

community that may have influenced the teachings of Jesus

Hyung Jin and Yeon Ah Moon at the entrance to museum of the Dead Sea scrolls

A visit to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. The modern church stands on the site of earlier shrines,

including that commissioned by Roman Emperor Constantine.

According to tradition, the church is said to stand on the site of the birthplace of Mary.

The MEPI group visits the Druze holy site at the tomb of Jethro.

Sheikh Samich Natur welcomes the MEPI visitors and explains the history of the Druze faith.

A courtesy call to the home of Sheik Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze in Israel

The Druze community is leading other faith communities in taking a strong public stand in support of UPF and the projects of Dr. Sun Myung Moon.

MEPI representatives are offered a traditional welcome by the leaders of the Druze community.

Hyung Jin and Yeon Ah Moon were warmly received as special representatives of the UPF Founder.

In an exchange of gifts with Sheik Mowafaq Tarif, Dr. Hyung Jin Moon receives a “sheik’s gown” and

presents the sheik with a copy of his father’s autobiography.

The Jerusalem “Rally for the Substantial Word” was the latest in a series that began in Seoul and New

York.

UPF Secretary General Tajeldin Hamad introduces the interfaith prayers.

People often find that there is so much in common even between religions that originate on opposite sides of the world.

Some of the younger participants get to know each other.

The Ambassadors for Peace program honored Jewish, Christian, and Druze leaders who have made notable

contributions to the unfinished work of peace.

A greeting from former Knesset member the Hon. Walid Sadek (left)

Hyung Jin Moon is greeted by Sheik Mohammad Kiwan, who offered the prayer before the iftar.

Hyung Jin Moon greets the audience before reading the Peace Message on behalf of his father, UPF Founder Dr. Sun Myung Moon.

The signing of the Jerusalem Declaration, in which all promise to work together as brothers and sisters to

establish God’s Kingdom of Peace

A prayer inside the Church of All Nations at Gethsemane. The rock marks the traditional location

of Jesus’ agonized prayer the night before his crucifixion.

The group walked on to a nearby grove of 2000-year old olive trees.

On a visit in 1965 Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon created a “holy ground” on this site, intuiting that it marked a more likely spot for Jesus’ vigil than the traditional

location.

Many visitors take time to collect a few stones from the ground to take home as a souvenir of their visit to the Holy Land.

May peace indeed come quickly!