For Immediate Release
June 4, 2009

A broad and diverse group of national American Christian leaders today sent a letter to President Obama on the heels of his historic speech in Cairo.

The message of support expressed gratitude for President Obama's efforts at reaching out to the Muslim world and for making Israeli-Palestinian peace a top priority of his Administration.  But it also expressed grave concern over the "deteriorating situation in the Holy Land" and urged the Obama Administration to make real and concrete progress in achieving a just peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Bishop Howard Hubbard, Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, "I am deeply inspired by the President's effort to bridge divides of culture and faith and to reach out directly to the people of the Middle East.  Confrontation only breeds radicalism.  For this effort at rapprochement to succeed, however, we need to see real progress on the ground towards peace with justice in the Holy Land."

Dr. Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland Church, said, "For too long the Holy Land has been viewed as a clash of religions and cultures, but religion must be part of any durable solution.  We're saying today that we're prepared to put our faith and resources behind that most important goal of bringing a just peace to Israelis and Palestinians--Jew, Christians and Muslim alike."

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said, "I welcome President Obama's strong commitment to pursuing Israeli-Palestinian peace.  His belief that peace in the Holy Land is possible and his firm statements holding both Israel and the Palestinians to their obligations are heartening.  Indeed, urgent efforts are now needed to preserve the two-state solution.  We are ready to help support bold action by his Administration to finally achieve the peace of Jerusalem." 

The letter emphasizes the urgency of the current moment—that this may be the last chance for a viable two-state solution to the Holy Land's conflict, which the signatories view as critical to stabilizing the region and bringing justice to both Israelis and Palestinians.

Signatories are national leaders stretching from religious liberals to conservatives, including national leaders who have never made public statements on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and some who are confidants of the President. Catholic Bishops and Cardinals, Evangelicals, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and historic African-American leaders representing millions of Americans joined this ad-hoc initiative.

Click here to read a copy of the letter along with the list of signatories.