President Herzog: Religion Must Play Central Role in Resolving Conflict
President Isaac Herzog stated at a Haifa gathering that religion must play a central role in resolving the Jewish-Arab conflict, praising the Ahmadiyya community for promoting coexistence.
President Isaac Herzog stated on Thursday that religion must play a central role in resolving the Jewish-Arab conflict, speaking at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community gathering in Haifa.
The Role of Religion in Conflict and Peace
Addressing an audience of about 1,000 people, including religious leaders, members of the Knesset, and foreign diplomats, Herzog emphasized that while religious elements form part of the conflict, they must also serve as a core component of its resolution. He rejected the notion that the Jewish-Arab conflict is purely a religious dispute, calling such interpretations superficial and extreme.
"The religious element stands to some extent at the base of the conflict, but it must also be a central component in its resolution," President Herzog declared.
Interfaith Dialogue in Haifa
Herzog praised the Ahmadiyya community for promoting interfaith dialogue and coexistence, noting that the community will mark a century of presence in Israel in two years. He thanked the community's spiritual leader in Israel, Amir Muhammad Sharif Odeh, for his ongoing efforts to foster shared living.
Mayor of Haifa Yona Yahav also addressed the gathering, highlighting the city's unique model of coexistence. Yahav noted that Jews, Muslims, Christians, Ahmadis, Druze, and Bahai live side by side in Haifa, proving that the city serves as a common home for all its residents despite differences.
