Speaking at a coexistence summit at the Dan Panorama Haifa Hotel, Herzog said that mixed towns and cities had once been models of coexistence and proof that it was possible for all the sectors in Israel’s demographic mosaic to live together in peace and harmony.
The summit was the first time that spiritual leaders of different faiths and municipal leaders met with the new president in an effort to resolve differences and restore relations.
Among the participants were Archbishop Youssef Matte, head of the Greek Catholic Church in the Galilee; Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau; Sheikh Nadr Haib, head of the Association of Muslim Spiritual Leaders; Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Moafaq Tarif; Kafr Kama Mayor Zakaria Nabso, head of the Circassian community; and Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut Mayor Haim Bibas, head of the Federation of Local Authorities.
The summit convened with an aim of signing an agreement of cooperation calling for peace, fraternity and coexistence among all the religious, ethnic and political groups in Israeli society and this was duly achieved in Herzog’s presence.
Herzog said that because of the complexities of Israeli society, everyone was in need of guidance from some wise and knowledgeable person whom they admired and trusted to steer them on the right path. There are people who chose the right rabbi, priest, kadi, sheikh or kes, he said, but there are also those who chose unwisely.
Herzog stressed that cooperation and coexistence are not edicts, but rather the right thing to do.
As leaders, all those present were required to set an example of partnership for communities all over the country regardless of faith, ethnic origin or gender, Bibas said. He paid tribute to those religious leaders who are putting out the fires of intolerance and violence and are calling for peace and reconciliation.
“We all have to live here together, because we have no other country,” Bibas said.
“Needless hatred has cost us dear lives,” Matte said. “Our land is the camp of God, who has enjoined us to live here together as one family – the family of our father Abraham.”
He called on the Israeli government to make education equal for all children so that they would grow up knowing that the other does not pose a threat and that they have a common future.
The signatories to the treaty promised that out of a deep sense of mission and belief in the love of humanity, they would work together for unity and tolerance, accepting all human beings, regardless of who they were, in an attempt to find common ground and to bring people of diverse backgrounds closer to each other.
In view of the recent upheavals, they also pledged to do everything possible to eliminate violence in all forms.