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The Palestinian Interreligious Dialogue Department was formed by a presidential decree on 5/8/2002 as follows:
*His Eminence Sheikh Tayseer R. B.Al-Tamimi, the supreme judge of the Sharia’ courts in Palestine, head of the highest council of Shari jurisdiction - president *Engineer Hamed R. B. Al-Tamimi - director
* A number of their Eminence, members of the highest judicial council and Sharia courts of appeal.
-------------------- Even before forming this department, His Eminence Sheikh Tayseer R. B. Al-Tamimi, the supreme judge, had participated in symposiums of interfaith dialogue, according to the spirit of Islam and its teachings.
In the year 1995 he accepted an invitation to participate in a symposium of Christian Islamic dialogue held in Bethlehem University;
it was attended by a great number of religious leaders and university students. In March 2000 he was assigned by President Yasir Arafat to represent the Islamic side in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic meeting which included Pope John the second;
the Grand Rabbi for Ashkenazi sect, Israel Meier Lau, which was held in Notre dame building in occupied Jerusalem.
This meeting was transmitted by international mass media and made an uproar because of the political and historical facts included in Sheikh Tayseer’s speech especially concerning Jerusalem (the eternal capital of the State of Palestine).
In January 2001 His Eminence Sheikh Tayseer Al-Tamim , the supreme judge, head of the Interreligious Dialogue Committee, participated in the Alexandria Meeting which included the most prominent religious leaders- Jewish ,Christian, Islamic -on the top of them was Sheikh Al-Azhar Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi; Metropolitan George Carey ,Archbishop of Canterbury, head of Evangelical Church in Britain and Grand Rabbi Bakshi Doron.
The declaration – which has been known universally as the First Alexandria Declaration for Religious Leaders in the holy land-was issued by that meeting.
[Permanent Committee for the Implementation of the Alexandria Declaration] was formed after the Alexandria Meeting; the committee held and is still holding periodic meetings in Jerusalem by the arrangement and supervision of the special representative of Canterbury Archbishop in the middle east , Canon Andrew White, but in many cases , not all the members could attend the meeting because of the barriers and obstacles imposed by the Israeli forces to prevent the Palestinians delegates from entering Jerusalem.
This committee held a conference in London in the period from 24 to 26 October 2002 under the patronage of Metropolitan George Cary, Archbishop of Canterbury.
In addition to the committee members, a number of ambassadors, representatives of the Quartet Committee, and a representative of prime minister of UK participated. British mass media covered the events of the conference.
Actually, the results of [Permanent Committee for the Implementation of the Alexandria Declaration] meetings are very limited because the Israeli side in the committee is not serious in practicing any influence or pressure on their government to lift the siege and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people as stated in the Alexandria Declaration Document; they offered nothing on the media level(at least like what some Israeli peace movements do ,e.g., "Peace Now Movement” ) to express their refusal of the oppressive procedures of the Israeli occupation, such as killing, assassination , demolishing houses, confiscating and seizing Palestinian lands for the benefit of settlements and settlers Despite that, the Palestinian side continue attending the meetings of this committee whenever it is possible to explain the suffering of the Palestinian people from the repressive procedures of the Israeli occupation, and assure and ensure the demands and just Palestinian rights.
In addition to its participation in the meetings of this committee, the Interreligious Dialogue Department has participated in many conferences and symposiums internally and externally and accepts any invitation to attend them as a concern from its side not to let the voice of Islam and Palestine be absent from any arena or field. some of these conferences:
1-[The Third Conference of International Alliance for Arab Israeli Peace] which was organized by Danish foreign Ministry.
The conference was held in Copenhagen-capital of Denmark- in the period: 8-10 May 2003. Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian delegations attended it including a group of religious, academic, intellectual and political personalities.
On behalf of His Eminence the supreme judge, director of the Interreligious Dialogue Department H. TAMIMI attended the conference within a large Palestinian delegation. He participated effectively in working group sessions and discussions.
2- [The Women Partnership for Peace in the Middle East], which was organized by the Global Peace Initiative of Women religious and spiritual Leaders.
The conference was held in Oslo -capital of Norway- in the period: 12-15 June 2003.Women delegations- which represent Norwegian, Israeli, American, Palestinian, religious and spiritual women leaders- attended the conference.
The director of the Interreligious Dialogue Department H. TAMIMI attended the conference on behalf of His Eminence the supreme judge among a Palestinian delegation.
The director of the committee delivered a main speech in the conference under the title [could religion be a motive power for peace in the Middle East].
He also participated effectively in working group sessions and discussions.
3-[War and Peace, Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue] which was organized by (Community of Saint’Egidio). The conference was held in Aachen city in the Federal Republic of Germany in the period 7-15 September 2003.
Delegations-which represent religious, intellectual and political leaders-attended it from all over the world.
Number of audience in the inaugural plenary session was more than 3000, and the number of the participants reached nearly 500 personalities.
The director of the Interreligious Dialogue Department attended the conference on behalf of the supreme judge (he was the only Palestinian in the conference), the director of the Interreligious Dialogue Department delivered a speech in the conference under the title [Islam is Religion of Peace].
He also participated effectively in working group sessions and discussions.
4- [Interfaith Dialogue Conference] in Cairo in the period: 12-14 January 2004. 26 judges of Sharia’ courts of the supreme judge department from all cities of Gaza Strip and the West Bank presided by His Eminence the supreme judge participated. During the conference profound and deep discussions and dialogues took place with Jewish rabbis, Michael Melchoir, president of Mimad Israeli Party and the Knesset member, and Rabbi Fromen, Rabbi of Tikko’a.
5-[Christian Islamic Dialogue Conference] in Amman in the period 24-26 July 2004.
His Eminence the supreme judge and the director of the Interreligious Dialogue Department had participated and contributed effectively to works of the conference.
6- Christian Islamic Dialogue Conference which was held in Ramallah on 10/8/2004 under the title [Moslems and Christians represent the national unity in defending Palestine and its holy places.] it was organized by The Interreligious Dialogue Department in cooperation with Adam’s Center for civilizations and Interfaith Dialogue, Kofor Qasem, inside the green line.
the Conference was under the patronage of his Excellency late president of Palestine Yasser Arafat. A large number of Muslim and Christian scholars and religious leaders, the prime minister and several Ministers, members of legislative council participated in the conference, the main speakers in the conference were:
* His Eminence sheikh Tysir Al- Tamimi, the supreme judge of Sharia courts in Palestine
* His beatitude Latin patriarch Michel Sabbah.
* Dr. Attalla Hannah , the official spokesman of Greek Orthodox church in Jerusalem
* His Eminence Sheikh Abdellah Nimer Darwish , founder of the Islamic Movement inside the green line.
* Dr. Hamzeh Deeb, lecturer in Al- Quds University
* Mr. Ibrahim Kandelfit , Ministry of Endowment Director The closing speech was of his Excellency late president of Palestine Yasser Arafat, who informed the conferees about the difficult situation our people suffer from in all provinces of the Palestine as a result of the Israeli aggression. He focused on the important role which the Muslim scholars and Christian religious men do to stabilize peace, security, tolerance and co-existence between all factions of the Palestinian society. Recommendation of the Conference
1- Religions are gathering people on the principles of cooperation and tolerance; Religions are not source of enmity and hatred.
2- Peace based on the justice is the solid basis of cooperative relations between world nations and peoples
3- The importance of prevailing civilizations cooperation and rejecting the logic of Civilizations clash.
4- Right of nations to elect their leaders without any foreign interference.
5- The International community and the civil society organizations should raise their voice to end the Israeli occupation and achieve the peace in the Holy land.
6- Arab and Muslim nations must bear their responsibilities in protecting the Islamic and Christian holy places in Palestine.
7- The Palestinian people must enhance and deepen his national unity to confront and remove the Israeli occupation
8- Muslim and Christian leaders in Palestine confirm their rejection and refusal of Israeli oppressive measures against Palestinian people such as: assassination, houses demolishing, siege and closure, apartheid separation wall, preventing Muslims and Christians to reach their holy places in Jerusalem.
7- The Arab Islamic Conference in Beirut from
1-2/12/2004.The Interreligious Dialogue Department director accompanied his Eminence the supreme judge.
His eminence delivered a speech on the dangers which Al-Aqsa Mosque is exposed to.
He urged the attendants to work on urging the Arab world to support the Palestinian people and defend al-Aqsa Mosque.
The sheikh suggested to name the conference session after the Martyr late President Yasir Arafat.
8-The Arab Days in German parliament Conference - Berlin from 2-4/12/2004.the Interreligious Dialogue Department director accompanied Sheikh Tayseer in that conference.
Through that visit, there were many activities, one of them, was a meeting with the scientific board which is interested in Islamic Sharia and jurisprudence.
During the German parliament, detailed discussions took place between Sheikh Tayseer and the attendants.
They were focused on Islam’s stand toward peace and violence.
Those discussions were highly appreciated and evaluated by the attendants.
His Eminence delivered speeches to the Arab and German television and radio stations.
9- Intrreligious and international Federation for world peace Conference, which was held in Seoul in South Korea in the period from 11-16/2/2005 his Eminence delivered a speech in the plenary session on 12/2.That speech, was highly appreciated and evaluated by the attendants.
In the end of the conference, some of the important personalities were given rewards among them was Sheikh Tayseer.
10- Resisting the Aggression Conference in al-Doha -Qatar in the period from 23/25/-2./2005 11- Interreligious Dialogue for Justice and Peace which was held in Supreme Judge Department in Al-Izaria on 2/4/2005, under the patronage of his Excellency president Mahmoud Abbas , the president of Palestinian national Authority .
Interreligious Dialogue Department in cooperation with Intrreligious and international Federation for World Peace IIFWP had organized the conference , The participants number exceeded 150, 77 of the were distinguished American personalities such as :
Mr.Walter Fauntroy - Civil Rights Leader , Member of USA Congress for twenty years Archbishop George Stallings - American Clergy Leadership Conference president Imam Mohammad Jodeh - Colorado Islamic Society.
Dr. Chang Shik Yang - Representative of Father Moon, IIFWP –North America Chairman, Dr.Michael Jenkins - IIFWP – USA Chairman, Rev. Jesse Edwards - Executive Committee, American Clergy Leadership Conference Chairman Dr. Haitham Budakji- Islamic society of Orange County – California Chairman his Eminence the supreme judge delivered a comprehensive speech ,at first he conveyed to the audience the greetings and appreciation of president Abbas for their endeavors for supporting the just, comprehensive and honorable peace which achieves the rights and aspiration of Palestine people.
Then he clarified the Islamic principles of tolerance, justice and peace, and explained the suffering of Palestinian people from oppressive, inhumane measures of occupation
12- Preparatory workshop of the world summit on the Christian Islamic dialogue Which was held in Dakar -Senegal in the period
6-8/4/2005 , representatives of 60 states and international and regional organizations participated in this conference , his Eminence the supreme judge chaired the Palestinian delegation which consisted of
1- Palestine Ambassador in Senegal – Mrs. Mayadah Abbasi
2- Interreligious Dialogue Department director – Hamed Tamimi 3- Mufti of Ramallah – Sheikh Jamal Bawattneh President of Senegal,
Mr. Abdullah Wad inaugurated the conference by delivering a speech concentrating on the importance of the Christian Islamic dialogue to guarantee the peaceful co-existence of Christian and Muslims together, he also highlighted the task of the conference in preparing of the world summit on the Christian Islamic dialogue which will be held next year in Senegal to enable the decision makers to take the appropriate decisions to support and activate this dialogue. The conference sessions continued for three days, prominent speakers delivered important speeches, profound discussions and deliberations followed.
The Palestinian delegation contributed effectively to the activities of the conference. his Eminence the supreme judge delivered a speech in the plenary session.
That speech was highly appreciated and evaluated by the attendants.
He concentrated on the dangers which al-Aqsa mosque is facing by the Jewish extreme groups who intend to storm and destroy it.
He recommended that the conference to denounce these assaults and to call the stated to work through USA to stop and prevent them.
He also demonstrated the reality of Christian Islamic dialogue and coexistence in Palestine.
12 On the last day of the conference and before the closing session , the Palestinian delegation convened with the Senegalese prime minister , his Eminence the supreme judge explain the sufferings of Palestinian people under the Israeli occupation and what Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy places face of judaization dangers .
the Senegalese prime minister expressed supporting and sympathy of Senegalese government and people for Palestinian cause and Jerusalem.
On 12/4/2005 Dakar university organized a large conference attended by more than 800 of university staff and students, in addition to attendance of all Arab ambassadors in Dakar, the director of the Interreligious Dialogue Department - Hamed Tamimi delivered a lecture followed by detailed discussion about the Palestinian cause which was appreciated well by the attendants 13- The Third Europe's Palestinians Conference which was held in Vienna – Austria in 7/5/2005 and organized by the Palestinian return center in London , this conference as the preceding conferences which were held in London in 2003 and Berlin in 2004 aim to emphasize the vivid and clear declaration by Palestinians masses in Europe to stick to their right of return to their cities and villages from which were displaced in 1948 .
Prominent Palestinian personalities from Palestine and Diaspora attended the conference, his Eminence the supreme judge delivered a speech in the plenary session about the right of return as it is the core of the Palestinian cause.
14- Supporting the momentum for lasting Peace Forum - which was held in Larnaka – Cyprus in the period 27-29/ 7/2005 and organized by Education For Life Palestinian society , the director of Interreligious Dialogue Department - Hamed Tamimi attended the conference within a large Palestinian delegation.
He participated effectively in working group sessions and discussions.
15- The International Islamic Conference - which was held in Amman – Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan in the period 4- 6/ 7/2005 and organized by Al- Al-Beit Foundation for the Islamic Thought, a large number of Islamic scholars of different Islamic creeds in the Islamic world attended the conference, his Eminence the supreme judge delivered a speech about women status and role in Islam
16- Intrreligious and International Federation for World Peace IIFWP Assembly 2005 - which was held in Seoul - South Korea in the period 29/7- 2/ 8/2005 – 280 personality of different fields, religious, political, academic and media representing 81 countries attended this conference, the director of Interreligious Dialogue Department - Hamed Tamimi attended the conference , he was the only Palestinian representing Palestine in this conference.
He delivered a speech about Palestinian cause and participated effectively in working group sessions and discussions In addition to these conferences and symposiums, His Eminence the supreme judge, head of Interfaith Dialogue Committee meets foreign religious Christian delegations from all sects which visit the country explaining to them the attitude of Islam towards the current events in the world and clarifying to them the suffering of the Palestinian people from the occupation and its arbitrary procedures, the desecration and destruction of the Christian and Islamic holy places especially their attempts of Judaization Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
His Eminence always meets heads of Christian sects in the country to support the national unity, tolerance, and brotherhood among Muslims and Christians. He participated and delivered a speech about justice and tolerance in Islam lately in the conference[Palestinian Christian Presence] which was organized by the Center of Religious and Traditional Studies in the holy land (Al-Liqaa) in June 2003.
In addition to all these activities, His Eminence-with guidance of late president Yasser Arafat- mediates to end disputes between Muslims and Christians inside and outside the country as the dispute on Shihab al- Din Mosque in Nazareth and the conflict between Moslems and Christians in Nigeria where he sent a letter in Arabic and English to the religious Christian and Islamic leaders urging them to reconcile and solve the dispute by dialogue and calling them to follow the Christian and Islamic example of tolerance and brotherhood in Palestine. In 5/1/2003 a cooperation and coordination agreement was signed in the field of interfaith dialogue between the Palestinian Interfaith Dialogue Committee and the Egyptian Permanent Committee of Heavenly Monotheistic Interfaith Dialogue in Al-Azhar Al-sharif. one of the aims of the committee is also to confront any attack or aggression against Islam as what happened when the spiteful American priest Jerry Falwell dared to describe prophet Mohammad as a terrorist; the priest was confronted; his lies were falsified, and his malignant aims against Islam and Muslims were shown in an essay under the title[ Sharon and Falwell]which was published in Al- Hayat Palestinian Newspaper in October 2002.
Interreligious Dialogue Department director Hamed R. B. Al-Tamimi
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