[The following statement was endorsed by the Kehilla Board of Trustees and appeared in the
Jewish Bulletin on January 10, 1997.]

The Peace Process Must Survive!

Of all the commandments, peacemaking is the only one that we are required to rush after to achieve, as we learn: "Seek peace and pursue it." (ps. 34:15) Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 9:9

Our love of Israel and our profound concern for the Palestinian people move us to speak out. We believe that Israelis and Palestinians can come to know peace and security only when the aspirations of each for a secure homeland are satisfied.

Isaiah said, 'Zion shall be redeemed through Justice.' (1:27) There will be no peace for Israel until there is a just resolution, agreed to by both the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel. The Israeli government must not continue to delay the effort to reach such a resolu- tion. Without.this, Palestinians might out of bitterness be moved to strike against Israel.

We call on both sides

to carry out all of the commitments of the Interim Agreement;
to act effectively to restrain any further violence, coercion, or extremism;
to refrain from all actions that detract from the peace process;
to negotiate outstanding issues, including the future status of Jerusalem, the Golan, and a sovereign Palestinian state; and,
to negotiate directly and on a continuous basis to hasten the peace process, with high - level representatives.

We also call on Israel

to halt both the confiscation of Palestinian lands and the creation of new settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
to redeploy troops from Hebron; and
to release Palestinian political prisoners as agreed.
We call on our President and our Congressional representatives, rabbis and congregations and Jewish organizations to raise their voices with ours in support of the large number of Israeli and Diaspora Jews who believe that the present government of Israel must fulfill the Interim Agreement signed by the former government, and proceed to the next stage of negotiations.

May the source of peace work through us as we pursue peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Kehilla Community Synagogue invites other organizations and individuals to endorse this statement. Please contact us at info@KehillaSynagogue.org.