by Pave The Way Foundation | Nov 5, 2012 | Obstacles, Peace
Throughout the history of the modern State of Israel, peace has eluded all of the people of the region. PTWF is working with prominent Palestinians who wish to give the Palestinian people another choice. Contrary to media coverage of this region, both the Palestinians and the Israelis desperately want peace. The media seems to only report on the exceptional few extremists. The truth is, people from both sides have the same message. For three generations we have been at war and we don’t want our children to have to continue this. It is the special interest of an elite few, which has driven this region to constant conflict.
Left – Gary Krupp brings the Manual of Wasatia to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. Center – Gary Krupp delivers the book of the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad by Dr. John Andrew Morrow (Right). Here, the Prophet ordered his followers to protect the people of the book, Jews and Christians, until the end of days. Very Muslims know these fifty sustained covenants even exist. They carry the legal authority of the Holy Q’uran.
The Dajani family is beginning a movement towards starting a third electoral party in Palestine, called Wasatia. PTWF is committed to help make this a reality.
In Dr. Dajani’s own words, the essence of the Wasatia Party:
“wasatia is a concept extracted from the Arabic word “wasat” which means “middle of the road”, and “center of the circle.” It is used in Arabic to mean also “balance” “moderation”. In the Holy Quran, it is used to mean “goodness”, “righteousness”, “justice”, and “straightforwardness.” Wasat is said to be that which is in the midst of extremes such as hot and cold, rich and poor, empty and full, generosity and stinginess, courage and cowardice.
It is time for wasatia creed to emerge and rise in the Moslem world that it may draw the best and the brightest from among the Moslem community. The new initiative adopts the wasatiah Islamic tradition and the shura Islamic concept as its’ main pillars. Al-Wasatiah calls for Muslims to take mid-ground that stands between those who sanctify strict tradition and those who opt for rational thinking in reading and explaining the Holy Quran in compliance with the Surah in the Holy Quran: {And so we have created you a midway nation.}
The wasatia concept is reflected also in many other verses in the Quran such as: {Be neither miserly nor prodigal, for then you should either earn reproach or be reduced to penury.} Al-shurah Islamic tradition advocates collective and consultative decision-making.
The goal will remain to seek peace and move to the center away from radicalism. The wasatia road taken in conflict resolution is negotiation, not confrontation. It is not win-lose situation but the win-win situation” – Dr Munther S. Dajani, Professor, Dean, Faculty of Arts Al Quds University, Jerusalem
Professors Munther and Mohammad Dajani meeting in Jerusalem with Aleksandar Simic, Gary Krupp and Meredith Krupp of PTWF.
Wasatia Office
Holy books of all religions are displayed at the Wasatia office with the teachings of tolerance and understanding of other faiths:
Donate to the Wasatia Forum – Anyone wishing to donate to the Wasatia forum and help to achieve its’ success, may do so through PTWF. Tax deductible checks may be made out to Pave the Way Foundation noted for the Wasatia Forum.
The Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque
Often a location and source of friction, PTWF has reached out to the Religious authority of the Jordanian government to seek a common ground of interest, founded in the concept of peaceful co-existence.
Israeli Military
Through the sponsorship and work of PTWF Director Richard Kandel and PTWF Representative in Israel Sam Philipe, we have sponsored numerous projects with the Israeli military. These meaningful gestures and projects have resulted in a unique level of trust, which we use in searching for peaceful common ground.
Below, Gary Krupp, President of PTWF, is presented to over 600 soldiers by Jerusalem Projects partner, Benny Katz.
Gestures of Peace
PTWF Director Dan Buttafuoco donates three 40 year-old olives trees that he planted on the Mount of Olives. The trees planted were dedicated to the three faiths of Abraham – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Directors, Gary Meredith Krupp, Sam Philipe and Dan and Cindy Buttafuoco join in the planting effort.
by Pave The Way Foundation | Nov 2, 2012 | Peace
Meetings in Lyon with Islamic, Christian, and Jewish leaders have resulted in remarkable advances. This impressive, cooperative group of religious leaders, has performed important peacekeeping functions during recent uprisings in France.
PTWF Director in France, Dr. Costantino Fiore, has been instrumental in maintaining solid, ongoing working relationships with all religious leaders. Fr. Christian DeLorme has been a hero in France for his fast action during the period of youth violence in Paris and elsewhere. This contact is essential to be able to act when religious strife and extremism surface.
Below, are meeting with the heads of the religious communities of Lyon, France.
by Pave The Way Foundation | Nov 1, 2012 | Peace
When diplomatic relations began with Israel on Dec 30, 1993, a few important issues were never settled and remain outstanding today. Improved relations with the Holy See, will have enormous benefits to Israel, both economically and politically. Better communication will also assure that this relationship will continue into the next Papacy. Through recurrent, ongoing meetings with Father David Jaeger, spokesperson for the Franciscan Custody and legal representative of the Holy See in Israel, and Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio and Papal Delegate for the Holy See in Israel and the Holy Land, we have been able to focus on specific, problematic issues between Israel and the Vatican.
Several problems have been identified, which the Vatican would like to resolve in order to further this cordial relationship. Similarly, Pave the Way has raised a number of issues to the Israeli government’s attention, which were easily rectified. For example, the issuance of Christian visas and other low level restrictions on travel in Israel and the territories, which hampered the resurgence of Christian pilgrimages, have been successfully addressed.
PTWF also acted immediately when behind the scenes obstacles were hampering advancement of the bilateral negotiations. We are proud to have been acknowledged as the one organization which acted decisively in order to keep these negotiations on track. We continue to monitor progress as an outside interested party, in order to see these problems resolved.
We have pledged the support and action of Pave the Way to further normalize this relationship. In encouraging and supporting productive relations between Israel and the Vatican we hope to establish a major cooperative liaison, resulting in broad cultural exchanges of artifacts between both Israel and the Vatican. Pave the Way continues to address unresolved issues, which remain open from the original negotiations and agreement from the 1993 accords.
Further reference material:
by Pave The Way Foundation | Oct 30, 2012 | Peace
PTWF is exploring the notion of removing historic obstacles between those within the same faith. We are exploring historic projects that will “pave the way” to improve relations between good people of all religions.
Picture above: PTWF with the Syrian and Russian Orthodox Churches.
Gary Krupp and Bennett Solberg of PTWF meet with the Ukrainian Archbishop of the United States H.Em. Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos.
Gary and Meredith Krupp meeting in Macedonia with Stefan Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia and with H.E. Agatangel, Metropolitan of Povardarie and H.E. Pimen, Metropolitan of Europe.
SUCCESS:
Meeting with the representatives of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece in Athens, Greece. Fr. Stephen Arrnides Archimandrite Fr.Gabriel Papanikolaou.
Meeting with Theophilos III Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
PTWF meeting with Bishop Christomos and Nebojsa Topolic of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
by Pave The Way Foundation | Oct 28, 2012 | Peace
Our meeting with Grand Mufti of Jerusalem was extremely productive. We discussed the WASATIA Initiative for peace in the Holy Land. This organization is taking a real position on creating a genuine peace between Palestine and the State of Israel by acknowledging the Israeli right to exist in peace. WASATIA concentrates its’ efforts on building a transparent infrastructure and respecting the three faiths of Abraham. Muslims must base their faith on the true message of Islam devoid of corruption and extremist activity.
Below PTWF gave the Mufti a book outlining the principles of WASATIA. Mohammed and Munther Dajani, founders of WASATIA, are concentrating their efforts on educating young Palestinians about tolerance.
Islam accords special status to Judaism and Christianity, categorically calling their adherents, “Ahl al-Kitab” (People of the Book.) It identifies itself with the People of the Book as the “Abrahamic family” within the Semitic Tradition (Hanifiyyah), the tradition of Abraham, who is recognized as the father of the three Semitic religions. Each of these religions has its book. That is, they are subject to a revelation sent down by God. They know what is right and what is wrong, what is lawful and what is unlawful. They love and revere God’s prophets and they know that they are ultimately accountable to God. This shows that Muslims and the People of the Book, share a divine legacy, a historical tradition of mutual co-existence, and a spirit of kinship and togetherness.
by Pave The Way Foundation | Oct 27, 2012 | Peace
Eliminating problems and misunderstandings between the religions and governmental entities is enormously important. Too many times, erroneous and inflammatory press reports have created artificial obstacles. When there are genuine disagreements, problems created by those with differing goals and agendas makes matters worse.
Pave the Way remains diligent in countering erroneous press reports, by responding immediately, eliminating questionable policy or clarifying specific issues.
For example, an unauthorized policy was put into place, demanding that anyone wishing to enter the Palestinian territories must have written authorization from the Israeli government. A handout was given to all newly arriving tourists. PTWF was notified that this policy had the potential to create a major clash between religions and further depress the already decimated tourism industry. We inquired with the Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See, Oded Ben-Hur, and he acted immediately to remove this potentially damaging policy.
Ben Gurion Handout (PDF)
A change in the ministry of the Interior of Israel, caused a temporary backlog of visa renewals. PTWF was contacted about some very damaging press reports in Italy. The reports claimed that none of the Catholic caretaker visas were being renewed in Israel. It further stated that the caretakers were all subject to arrest and expulsion. PTWF immediately contacted The Ministry of the Interior, and alerted him to this press report. An emergency session of the Ministry was called and 50% of the visas were renewed within 2 weeks, thus addressing the problem head on, and acting to end it.
